Women’s hockey fighting for top position in WIAC standings

The UW-River Falls women’s hockey team had a strong weekend against WIAC opponent Superior winning 5-2 at Superior last Friday, and tying 2-2 at home last Saturday.

“The win and tie against a WIAC team were huge conference games for us and gave us momentum going into the Gustavus games,” said sophomore forward Chloe Kinsel. “We had a slow start to the season but have definitely picked it up lately and especially against Superior who is a high ranked team.”

Kinsel was named the WIAC player of the week last week. She scored a power play goal in the 5-2 win and was involved in both goals in the 2-2 tie with a goal and an assist.
“It was an honor to be selected as WIAC player of the week. I just knew these two games were huge for us and took advantage of every chance I got to help the team in any way. I could not have done it without the help of my teammates,” Kinsel said.

In the 5-2 win, UWRF scored a first period goal when Kait Mason found the back of the net assisted by Crysta Lowell and Brianna Breiland. Superior answered with a power play goal later on in the period.

The Falcons lit the lamp twice in the second period off of goals by Brook Story and Kinsel. They again added two more in the third period  by Dani Sibley and Breiland.

Superior also scored a third period goal. Despite the loss Superior had more shots on goal with 27 compared to 24 by UWRF. Ashley Kuechle started in net and recorded 25 saves in the game.

In the 2-2 tie both teams scored a goal apiece in the second and third periods. Paige Johnson and Kinsel scored goals for UWRF. Kuechle started goalie again and recorded 16 saves in the game.

Going into Wednesday night UWRF was ranked No. 10 in the nation and took on No. 5 ranked, and rival the past couple years, Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC). GAC has knocked out the Falcons the past four years in the national tournament. What looked like what have been a big win for UWRF slipped away at the very end.

GAC took the early lead at 5:07 of the first period. It was not until the end of the second period when Karleigh Wolkerstorfer scored a game tying goal for her team high six goals.

Alice Cranston scored at 5:39 of the third period to give the Falcons a lead that they would hang on to all the way until the final second of the game. A controversial, debated goal call came at 19:59 when the puck got poked in underneath Kuechle who finished with 23 saves.

UWRF is now 6-3-2 overall on the season and will play GAC again at 7 p.m., at Gustavus Adolphus Friday night.     “Gustavus, always being our rival, is always a tough battle for us. The focus is for everyone to do their role on the ice and work as a team to get the win. Everybody has to want it and as long as everyone is doing what they can to outwork them, we can beat them,” said Kinsel.