RIVER FALLS, Wis. – During the first 15 games of the season, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team was one of the most disciplined in all of NCAA Division III hockey, averaging under five penalties a game. During that time the Yellowjackets also employed one of the top five penalty killing units in the country.
 
In the six games since then, the Yellowjackets are averaging nearly seven penalties per game, and it stands to reason by taking more penalties, and allowing the opposition more power plays, they are going to score more goals.
 
Friday night, the Yellowjackets gave River Falls six power play chances, and the Falcons scored twice. Both of those came in the third period, the second coming with just 12 seconds left, allowing River Falls to come from behind to pick up a 4-3 win at W.H. Hunt Arena in River Falls.
 
It was the third straight game the Yellowjackets (12-7-2, 5-4-1 WIAC) have given up two power play goals.
 
The backbreaking penalty came with 44.1 seconds left in regulation with the score tied 3-3. The Yellowjackets were called for too many men on the ice and couldn't clear the puck from their zone. Noah Ganske, who had already scored twice in the third period took a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that beat Yellowjacket goaltender Myles Hektor (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), providing the Falcons with the winning margin.
 
Early on, things looked good for the Yellowjackets, especially on the power play, as they scored twice on the man advantage in the opening 20 minutes. Just 4:08 into the first period Coltyn Bates (Brandon, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) took a pass from Reed Stark (Suffern, N.Y./Douglas County West) and his shot from the slot beat Falcon goaltender Dysen Skinner up high to make it 1-0.
 
The Yellowjackets increased their lead at 10:59 of the first when Dylan Johnson (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) took a shot from the right circle that was deflected past Skinner by Jordan Martin (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate). The power play goal was the third of the year for Martin.
 
River Falls scored the only goal of the second period when Vilho Saariluoma picked up a rebound at the top of the goal crease to cut the Yellowjacket lead in half at 7:49. The Falcons tied the game 2-2 at 3:34 of the third period when Danske wristed a shot from near the top of the right circle through traffic and past Hektor.
 
The 'Jackets would move back in front with another power play goal at 7:32 of the third. Gavin Rasmussen (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) made a great play on the right boards to knock down the River Falls clearing attempt, and Stark picked up the puck and fed Bates in the slot who one-timed his second goal of the game past Skinner, making it 3-2.

Late in the third River Falls pulled its goaltender and scored the tying goal with the extra attacker on. Similar to his first goal and the eventual game winner, Danske got the puck near the top of the left circle and got his shot through traffic and past Hektor, tying the game with 1:55 to go.
 
With the loss, the Yellowjackets have dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.
 
Hektor finished the game with 27 saves.
 
The same two teams will play the second game of their weekend series Saturday night at Wessman Arena. The opening face-off is set for 7:05 p.m.