For the fifth time in seven games, the University of Wisconsin-Superior men's hockey team played into overtime. And for the fourth time the Yellowjackets finished with a tie.
The latest extra session game came Saturday night at Wessman Arena as UWS and UW-River Falls skated to a 3-3 tie.
The tie gives the 'Jackets a record of 2-1-4 overall and 1-0-1 in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. The Falcons are now 5-0-2 and 1-0-2.
Despite the tie, UWS coach Dan Stauber saw plenty to be pleased about, including coming back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.
"Coming back twice like that -- that's a sign that we're playing well as a team and doing some things," Stauber said.
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UWS also had Nate Rein and Andrew Fisher score their first goals of the season, and Logan Isley remained hot with his third goal in three games.
Getting balanced scoring is key to the 'Jackets, who had two more players sit out Saturday due to injuries.
With Braden Desmet, Corey Stark and Art Clark already sidelined, the 'Jackets were forced to play with without defensive captain Dustin Cosgrove and forward Chris Berry on Saturday.
Cosgrove was hurt at Northland College on Nov. 6 and Berry was banged up in Thursday's 1-0 win at UW-Stout.
"Now our top four scorers from last year are out, so we're making due," Stauber said. "We have a handful of guys out so we have to keep moving forward."
Also on the downside, UWS allowed a pair of power-play goals and two of River Falls' goals came in the final minute of a period.
Pat Borgestad, who scored all three goals for River Falls, tallied with 40 seconds left in the first period and on a power play with 49 seconds left in the second.
"That first one was a mental lapse on our part," Stauber said. "That was frustrating, but we'll get it."
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Borgestad's second goal came on a power play and gave River Falls a 2-0 at 11:53 of the second period.
Rein's goal came at 12:24 of the second period with assists from Shane Bailey and Talan Berlando, and Fisher tied it up at 2-2 with a 5-on-3 power-play goal less than two minutes later with help from Brian Bina and Kevin Huck.
With UWRF leading 3-2, Superior's Logan Isley tied the game, and eventually forced overtime, when he redirected a shot by Derek Paige past Falcon goaltender Tyler Owens with 2:01 remaining in the third period.
"Derek got the puck, took it to the middle and let it go as fast as he could. That's what you want to do, get the puck off your stick as fast as you can," Isley said. "I was just trying to make the screen, it happened to come my way and I got the blade of my stick on it."
Chad Beiswenger finished with 24 saves for UWS and Tyler Owens had 43 for UWRF.
"It's a tie, but they're a highly ranked team," Isley said. "Personally, I think we should have won. But we'll take the one point (in the conference standings)."
The 'Jackets are back at home at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday with a non-conference game against Finlandia.
'JACKET JOTTINGS: Fisher's goal was also the first of his collegiate career. ... UWS plays at River Falls on Jan. 25. ... After a brief experiment of using the south bench for the first two home games, UWS returned to the north bench Saturday night. ... UWRF started with the weekend with a 6-3 win Friday night at St. Scholastica.
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UW-River Fall 1-2-0-0-3
UW-Superior 0-2-1-0-3
First Period: 1. UWRF, Pat Borgestad (Jim Henkemeyer, Josh Meyers), 19:20.
Second Period: 2. UWRF, Borgestad (T.J. Dahl, Henkemeyer), 11:53 (pp). 3. UWS, Nate Rein 1 (Shane Bailey 2, Talan Berlando 1), 12:24. 4. UWS, Andrew Fisher 1 (Brian Bina 1, Kevin Huck 2), 14:00 (5-on-3). 5. UWRF, Borgestad (Dustin Norman, Henkemeyer), 19:11 (pp).
Third Period: 6. UWS, Logan Isley 3 (Derek Paige 3), 17:59.
Overtime: No scoring.
Saves: Tyler Owens, UWRF 10-18-13-2-43. Chad Beiswenger, UWS 12-5-4-3-24.
