Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 5,800
Chancellor: Ann Lydecker
WIAC faculty representatives: Rik Seefeldt, Barbara Rebhuhn
Athletic director: Rick Bowen (phone: 715/425-3246)
Assistant athletic director: Patti Ford (phone: 715-425-3244)
Head coach: Steve Freeman (8th season, 144-63-10 career record) 715/425-3252
Assistant coaches: Bob Ritzer, Mickey Keating
National affiliation: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div. III
Conference: Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Conference members: NCHA: Eau Claire, Lake Forest, River Falls, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior; WIAC: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior, Whitewater
Nickname: Falcons
Colors: Red and White
NCHA championships: (2) 1988, 1996
WIAC championships: (8) 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999
2003 overall record: 23-7-1
2003 conference record, finish: NCHA - 11-2-1, 2nd place; WIAC - 6-1-1, 2nd place
2003 letter winners lost: (8) Rheese Carlson (F), John Conboy (D), Nate Kotewa (F), Adam Kragthorpe (D), Mike Salmela (D), Erik Ste. Marie (D), Jacque Vezina (G), Ryan Vieau (D)
2003 letter winners returning: (15) Matt Elsen (F), Aaron Degerness (F), Joe Dustin (D), Nate Hansen (D), Jess Johnson (F), Marc-Andre Lalande (D), Dan Meneghin (G), Jesse Modahl (F), Steve Moe (F), Jim Murphy (F), Rob Novak (F), Josh Schlipp (F), Tony Sikich (F), Jamie Steinert (F), Steve Witkowski (G)
Home arena, phone: Hunt Arena (1,800) press box phones, 715/425-3825 and 715/425-3147
Trainer: Gary Eloranta 715/425-3130
Sports information director: Jim Thies 715/425-3846 (e-mail: james.g.thies@uwrf.edu)
Web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0304
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486

2003-2004 Falcon Schedule
Oct. 31 at MSOE, 7:25 p.m.
Nov. 1 at MSOE, 5 p.m.
Nov. 7 Augsburg, 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Con.-Moorhead, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14 St. Thomas, 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 15 St. Mary's, 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Bethel, 7 p.m.
Nov. 22 at Hamline, 7 p.m.
Nov. 25 Gustavus Adolphus, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 5 Stevens Point*, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 6 Eau Claire*, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Stout*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 Stout*, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 9 Marian, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 10 Marian, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Lake Forest*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 at St. Norbert*, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 St. Scholastica*, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 24 Superior*, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 30 at Superior*, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 31 at St. Scholastica*, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 6 St. Norbert*, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 7 Lake Forest*, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Eau Claire*, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Stevens Point*, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 NCHA First Round
Feb. 21 NCHA First Round
March 5 NCHA Semifinals
March 6 NCHA Finals
* NCHA Games


2002-2003 Falcon Results
23-7-1 Overall, 11-2-1 NCHA, 6-1-1 WIAC
Home 16-2-0, Away 7-3-1, Neutral 0-2-0

Date	Opponent	W/L/T	RF	Opp	Goals	Saves
Oct. 25	MSOE	W	11	2	Johnson, Magnuson 2	Vezina 14
Oct. 26	MSOE	W	7	1	Steinert 2	Meneghin 17
Nov. 1	at Eau Claire*	W	10	1	Moe 22	Vezina 32
Nov. 2	at Stevens Point*	W	7	2	7 with 1	Meneghin 223
Nov. 8	at St. Scholastica*	W	7	1	Steinert 2	Meneghin 30
Nov. 9	at Superior*	T	0	0		Vezina 32
Nov. 15	Hamline	W	5	0	5 with 1	Meneghin 20
Nov. 16	Bethel	W	6	0	Hansen 2	Vezina 20
Nov. 22	Lake Forest*	W	3	2	3 with 1	Meneghin 28
Nov. 23	St. Norbert*	W	5	2	Kotewa 2	Vezina 28
Dec. 3	St. Scholastica	W	8	1	Murphy, Steinert, Elsen 2 each	Vezina 12
Dec. 6	at St. Thomas	L	2	5	Kotewa, Elsen 1	Vezina 21
Dec. 7	at St. Maryís	W	5	4	Murphy 2	Meneghin 30
Dec. 13	Augsburg	W	8	1	Murphy 2	Meneghin 23
Dec. 14	St. Johnís	L	1	2	Murphy 1	Vezina 22
Jan. 4	St. Olaf	W	3	1	Schlipp 2	Meneghin 19
Jan. 10	Stout*	W	8	0	8 with 1 each	Vezina 20
Jan. 11	at Stout*	W	6	2	Novak, Stensrud 2	Meneghin 22
Jan. 14	at Gustavus Adolphus	W	4	2	4 with 1	Vezina 25
Jan. 24	Stevens Point*	W	3	2 OT	Kotewa, Vieau, Murphy	Vezina 31
Jan. 25	Eau Claire*	W	9	3	Sikich 2	Meneghin 18
Jan. 31	Superior*	L	3	5	Degerness, Moe, Schlipp	Vezina
Feb. 1	St. Scholastica*	W	11	2	Elsen 3	Meneghin 18
Feb. 7	at St. Norbert*	L	2	3 OT	Steinert, Elsen	Vezina 30
Feb. 8	at Lake Forest*	W	4	1	Johnson 2	Meneghin 26
Feb. 14	St. Scholastica**	W	3	0	3 with 1	Meneghin 16
Feb. 15	St. Scholastica**	W	14	2	Schlipp 4	Vezina 22
Feb. 28	Superior**	L	3	6	Elswen 2	Vezina 21
March 1	Stevens Point**	L	2	5	Murphy, Kotewa	Meneghin 23
March 12	St. John's%	W	2	0	Hansen, Lalande	Vezina 31
March 15	at St. Norbert%	L	2	5	Degerness, Salmela	Vezina 22

^ WIAC Game
* NCHA Game
**NCHA Playoff Game

2003-2004 UW-River Falls Preview
Six seniors, and several underclassmen, will form the nucleus for the 2003-04 Falcon hockey team.

The Falcons accomplish a team goal last year when they led the NCHA in goals scored (78). UW-RF wants to do the same again in 2003-04 and with seven of the team's top eight scorers returning, that goal looks reachable. Senior forwards Jim Murphy (15-22-37), Matt Elsen (15-19-34) and Jamie Steinert (14-14-28) finished second, third and fifth in scoring last year. Also back are forwards Rob Novak (10-17-27) and Jess Johnson (13-11-24) who finished seventh and eighth in scoring.

Despite an emphasis on the offensive part of the game, the Falcons remained one of the top defensive teams in the NCHA also. UW-RF allowed just 26 goals in NCHA play and that tied them for the league lead. Senior Joe Dustin and Junior Mark-Andre Lalande return on the blue line for the Falcons. Nate Hansen, who played forward last year, will be moved back to play defense in 2003-04.

Goaltending always plays a key role and the Falcons have a veteran back for the season. Sophomore Dan Meneghin played in 14 games last year and finished with a 1.72 goals against average and a .929 saves percentage. He will handle most of the goalie duties in 2003-04.

2003 Returning Letter Winners

Go to the Falcon 2003 Statistics Page

Go to the Northern Collegiate Hockey Homepage

Go to the WIAC Hockey Page

Steve Freeman
Head Coach