RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's hockey team hit the road for the first time in a long time Friday, traveling to River Falls for a date with the Falcons. It was the second game of the season between the two teams, with UW-River Falls winning the first, 2-1 over the Yellowjackets at Wessman Arena Nov. 17.
 
The tight checking and defense continued in the rematch two months later, with the teams combining for just two goals in 65 minutes of game play. The Yellowjackets broke a scoreless tie just 1:07 into the third period, but River Falls scored on a late power play to force overtime, and the teams skated to a 1-1 tie at W.H. Hunt Arena in River Falls.
 
The game went in the books as a tie, with each team earning a point in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) standings. The Yellowjackets (10-9-1, 5-4-1 WIAC) earned the extra point, outscoring the Falcons 2-1 in a five-round shootout.
 
Daniel Roszival got the Yellowjackets on the board early in the third, redirecting a puck in the slot for his fourth goal of the season early in the third. River Falls tied it with just over a minute to play in regulation on a Jonny Meiers power play goal.
 
In goal, Jack Boschert (Florissant, Mo./Duchesne) was outstanding for the Yellowjackets, finishing the game with 36 saves. He also stopped four-of-five River Falls chances in the shootout.
 
Game Notes

• Friday's game was the first road game for the Yellowjackets in eight weeks, dating back to Dec. 1 when they played at UW-Eau Claire.
• Tyler Ryder (Byron Center, Mich./Northstar Christian Academy) and C.J. Walker (Boise, Idaho/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) assisted on the Rozsival goal. With the assist, Walker took over the team scoring lead with 14 points (2 goals, 12 assists).
• The Yellowjackets outshot River Falls 3-1 in the overtime but had a Carson Riddle (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon) shot on a partial breakaway go over the net. Then in the closing seconds, Gavin Rasmussen (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) hit the post on what would have been the game winning goal.
• In the shootout, both teams missed on their first chances before River Falls scored on their second. Rasmussen needed to score in the third round for the Yellowjackets and did to prolong the shootout. Chris Ishmael (Oakville, Ontario/Abbey Park Secondary School) scored the eventual shootout winner in the fifth round for the Yellowjackets.
• River Falls outshot the Yellowjackets 37-26 in the game.
• The second intermission was extended to 25 minutes after the ice resurfacer malfunctioned, causing a delay.
• River Falls' only goal came on the power play, marking the sixth time in the last seven games the Yellowjackets have allowed at least one goal while shorthanded.
• The shootout win was the first for a Yellowjacket team under head coach Rich McKenna in six tries.

The Yellowjackets and Falcons will play the second game of their weekend series Saturday night at W.H. Hunt Arena in River Falls. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
  Read Full Article