RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Sophomore goaltender McKenzie Whalen (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks) made 23 saves for the UW-Superior women's hockey team, but sixth-ranked UW-River Falls received the game-winning goal 17 seconds into the second period to take Game 1 of the WIAC semifinal series at Hunt Arena Friday.
 
Bella Wagner's 15th goal of the season was all the Falcons needed as they held on for the victory, improving to 20-5-1. The loss drops the Yellowjackets to 17-8-1 overall.
 
UWS outshot the hosts, 8-3, in the first period, but were unable to solve UWRF goalie Sami Miller, who earned her fifth shutout of the season with 17 saves.
 
Callie Hoff picked up the only assist – her 20th of the season – on the Wagner goal.
 
The River Falls defense limited the 'Jackets to just nine shots on goal over the final two periods and blocked 10 shots on the night to help secure the victory.
 
UWS blocked 20 Falcons' attempts, including two each by Jenna Curtis (Webster, Wis./Webster) and Kaylee Wood (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park). 
 
Kaleigh Martinson (Dayton, Minn./Champlin Park) paced the offense with a game-high-tying five shots and goal and Tessa Jorde (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) added three.
 
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 2:05 p.m., at Hunt Arena.