Sports

Samantha Hayek Sets Women’s Lacrosse Assists Record

By Ethan Lay

May 7, 2024

Women’s lacrosse is a young program at UW-River Falls, debuting in 2019. However, the team has finished above .500 every season. Earlier this year, the program began its first season featuring conference matchups and conference playoffs. This change made the season more competitive for the Falcons and increased their need for offensive strength. 

UWRF women’s hockey succeeds in national championship

By Ethan Lay

April 22, 2024

The UW-River Falls women’s hockey team won its first national championship on March 17, 2024. After completing a perfect 31-0 season, the Falcons achieved the highest honor in NCAA Division III women’s hockey in a 4-1 victory over Elmira College.  […]

Holly Eckers: Four years as a dual-sport athlete

By Ethan Lay

April 22, 2024

Most student-athletes at UW-River Falls are members of one varsity program, but senior student Holly Eckers is an exception. She has been a member of both the women’s hockey and the women’s lacrosse teams since her freshman year.  While Eckers […]

UWRF women's hockey: achieving two decades of success

By Ethan Lay

March 28, 2024

“We have a winning culture, but we don’t talk about winning.” These were the words of Joe Cranston, the head coach of the women’s hockey team at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He is the first and only head coach […]

Noah Hanson: Six years of perseverance

By Ethan Lay

February 20, 2024

Noah Hanson entered his sixth year as a member of the UWRF Men’s Basketball team in the fall of 2023. His journey to eligibility this year follows some ups and downs: Hanson’s success, the COVID-19 pandemic, a season-ending injury, and, this season, a comeback story. 

Sam Anzai nominated for Hockey Humanitarian Award

By Ethan Lay

February 20, 2024

Sam Anzai, a player on the UW-River Falls Men’s Hockey team since 2019, has received one of only 18 national nominations for the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes college hockey players who have shown significant commitment to surrounding communities and organizations when they’re off the ice. It is now in its 29th season and is given to male and female college hockey players from Division I, II, or III. 

#2 Falcons defeat #1 Gusties, start season 10-0

By Ethan Lay

December 11, 2023

On Dec. 5, UW-River Falls women's hockey faced their most anticipated opponent yet, the reigning national champion and #1 ranked Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties. Last season, the Falcons finished as the #1 seed in the WIAC. In early March, they won the WIAC tournament, beating UW-Eau Claire in the championship game 5-1. 

Men’s basketball opens season 3-4, rivals mediocre 2022

By Ethan Lay

December 11, 2023

UW-River Falls men’s basketball finds itself in a hole, similar to last season. After seven games, their 3-4 record mirrors their 2022 campaign. The Falcons started 3-4 in 2022 and finished 11-15 overall. UWRF struggled in the conference as well, going 5-9 against opponents in the WIAC. Late in the season, River Falls beat Stout and Stevens Point, leading to a WIAC tournament birth as the #6 seed. They would lose narrowly to UW-Whitewater in the first round, ending their season.

Women’s basketball starts 5-1 for second straight year

By Ethan Lay

December 11, 2023

Through six games, UWRF women’s basketball is 5-1, mirroring last year’s hot start. The Falcons are coming off a mediocre 2022 season, where they failed to participate in the WIAC tournament. They went 14-11 overall but struggled against teams in the WIAC. River Falls finished 4-10 in the conference and tied with UW-Platteville for the final playoff seed. Platteville participated in the tournament as the #6 seed and the Falcon's season ended bitterly. 

Shelby Lyman enters 2nd year as women’s basketball head coach

By Ethan Lay

December 11, 2023

Shelby Lyman is in her second year as the head coach of UW-River Falls’ women's basketball program. In 2022, she served as the interim head coach and led the Falcons to their first winning record since 2017. Before the 2023 season, Lyman was named the program's permanent head coach. Through six games this season, the Falcons are 5-1.