Chelsey Calder's first two goals of the season helped UW-River Falls defeat the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets 4-2 Saturday afternoon at Wessman Arena.
With the win, the Falcons temporarily move into first place in the NCHA with a record of 8-2-1 and 17 points. UW-Stevens Point (9-2-4, 7-2-2) is currently second with 16 points. The Pointers were also in action Saturday, but the outcome of their game at Concordia-Meqon was not immediately known.
The loss drops the Yellowjackets to 9-6-2 overall and 5-3-2 in league play. They now find themselves trailing the lead pack in the NCHA with just 12 points.
A golden opportunity turned into a disaster for the 'Jackets late in the first period. Thanks to a pair of River Falls penalties, UWS went on a 25-second 5-on-3 power play.
But it was the Falcons who cashed in when Emma Nordness got behind the UWS defense, streaked down the right wing and put a low shot past UWS goaltender Rikki Nespor.
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Campbell's second goal of the year came unassisted with 2:11 left in the opening period.
River Falls took a 2-0 lead 1:38 into the second period on Calder's first goal of the year.
With the Falcons skating on a power play, Calder got the puck to the left of the goal and put the puck in off Nespor's pads with assists from Jamie Briski and Ashley Berner.
It went to 3-0 at 13:44 when Stefanie Schmitz won the puck during a scramble just outside the crease and squirted it under Nespor.
The 'Jackets were put in another favorable position with second 5-on-3 power play midway through the third period.
This time they capitalized as Kayla Chilstrom put a shot off the cross bar and Teagan Cassan swept home the rebound while laying face down just outside the crease.
UWS went on another power play with 6:52 remaining in the third period and 1:33 later got within 3-2 when Jessica Tyra put home the rebound after a save on Jamie McClintock's shot from the left circle.
The Falcons quickly answered as Calder put a hard shot in over Nespor from the slot with 3:31 remaining.
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UWS wasn't done with yet, though, and with 1:11 remaining went on another power play. That, along with a pulled goaltender, gave the 'Jackets a 6-on-4 advantage for the final 1:11.
But three pad saves by Cassie Campbell, as well as a number of blocked shots in front of her, helped the Falcons keep UWS out of the net and complete the win.
Campbell picked up the win with 36 saves, including 19 in the third period.
Nespor had 24 saves for UWS.
UWS hosts Concordia (Wis.) at 7 p.m. Friday and Lake Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday.
UW-River Falls 1 2 1 -- 4
UW-Superior 0 0 2 -- 2
First Period: 1. UWRF, Emma Nordness 2 (unassisted), 17:49 (sh).
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Second Period: 2. UWRF, Chelsey Calder 1 (Jamie Briski 7, Ashley Berner 8), 1:38 (pp). 3. UWRF, Stefanie Schmitz 8 (Jessica Thompson 4), 13:44.
Third Period: 4. UWS, Teagan Cassan 5 (unassisted), 8:17 (5-on-3). 5. UWS, Jessica Tyra 6 (Jamie McClintock 3, Shana Katz 5), 14:31 (pp). 6. UWRF, Calder 2 (unassisted), 16:29.
Saves: Cassi Campbell, UWRF 10-7-19--36. Rikki Nespor, UWS 11-8-5--24. Att: 187.
