RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's hockey team entered play Saturday, knowing the three points they were about to be playing for were huge. With a win, the Yellowjackets would distance themselves in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) standings from Saturday's opponent, UW-River Falls. With a loss, the gap would tighten considerably, and leave playoff positioning more tenuous heading into the final two weekends.
 
Unfortunately, the offensive struggles that have plagued the Yellowjackets for much of the 2023-24 season continued to do so Saturday, as River Falls scored goals in each period on the way to a 5-1 win over the Yellowjackets Saturday at W.H. Hunt Arena.
 
Despite the loss, the Yellowjackets (10-10-1, 5-5-1 WIAC) remain in fourth place, but their lead over UW-River Falls shrunk to just four points, and the Falcons now own the tiebreaker, having won the season series 2-0-1.
 
Matt Francois (Denver, Colo./Grandview) scored the only goal for the Yellowjackets Saturday, taking a feed in the left circle and lifting a shot over the glove hand of River Falls goaltender Dysen Skinner at 11:18 of the second period. The goal cut the River Falls lead to 3-1, and at the time gave the Yellowjackets momentum, but they couldn't build off it.
 
Following a strong performance Friday, Yellowjacket goaltender Jack Boschert (Florissant, Mo./Duchesne) had a tough go Saturday, allowing three goals on eight shots before being lifted in favor of Kobe Grant (Vernon, British Columbia/South Kamloops Secondary) following the Falcons' third goal.
 
Game Notes

• The goal by Francois was his first goal and point of 2023-24. The goal snapped a 17-game drought for Francois, dating back to last season.
• Austin Paul (Saint-Lazare, Quebec/École Secondaire du Sommet) assisted on the Francois goal, marking his first point of the season.
• The Yellowjackets struggled on special teams, going 0-for-7 on the power play and allowing River Falls two goals on five power play chances.
• Dylan Smith scored twice and added an assist for River Falls, while Alex Davis added three assists.
• River Falls had a chance to make it a 3-0 game late in the first period, but Boschert denied the Falcons' Jonny Meiers on a penalty shot.
• The penalty shot was the first against the Yellowjackets since Oct. 28, 2017.
• Blake Holmes (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) was assessed a five-minute major for facemasking and a game misconduct late in the second period.
• The Yellowjackets managed just three shots on goal in the third period.
• River Falls blocked 16 Yellowjacket shot attempts in the game.
• Grant finished 12 saves on 14 shots faced.

The Yellowjackets will return home next weekend for their final home games of the 2023-24 regular season. They will face UW-Stout Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2-3. The opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. both nights.
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