RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's hockey team struggled down the stretch to close the regular season, and as a result lost the opportunity to play at home during the opening round of the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament.
 
As a result, the 'Jackets were in River Falls Friday, looking to open the weekend series with a win and move a step closer to advancing to the WIAC semifinals at UW-Stevens Point next weekend.
 
Things looked good for the Yellowjackets early, as they took a lead into the second period. Unfortunately things fell apart in the middle frame and a Yellowjacket rally came up just short in a 3-2 loss to UW-River Falls Friday at W.H. Hunt Arena.
 
With the loss, the Yellowjackets (11-14-1) will now have to win not only the regulation game but the mini-game Saturday in order to keep their season alive. It's the same formula the Yellowjackets needed to employ a year ago when they took on Northland in the opening round.
 
It was an even first period, one the shots favor River Falls 10-9 and each team have one power play chance. The Yellowjackets took advantage of theirs, literally scoring in the final second to move in front.
 
C.J. Walker (Boise, Idaho/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) worked his way from the left corner into the slot and took a shot through a screen that beat River Falls goaltender Dean Buchholz with .3 seconds left on the clock to make it 1-0.
 
River Falls took over from there, scoring three times in the second. Sam Anzai poked home a rebound at 3:15 to tie the game at 1-1. Max Collette broke the tie at 8:04 and Noah Roofe gave River Falls insurance in the final minute of the period.
 
The Yellowjackets cut the deficit to one at 11:43 of the third when Chris Ishmael (Oakville, Ontario/Abbey Park Secondary School) redirected a Troy Quinn (Nepean, Ontario/St. Paul's Catholic) shot past Buchholz to make it a 3-2 game. That's as close as the Yellowjackets would get, however.
 
Jack Boschert (Florissant, Mo./Duchesne) got the start in goal and took the loss, finishing with 24 saves. His record on the year stands at 5-5-1.
 
Game Notes

• Walker's goal was his third of the season and snapped a 12-game drought going back to Dec. 9.
• The power play goal was just the fifth for the Yellowjackets going back to Dec. 1.
• Blake Holmes (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) and Jordan Guiney (Victoria, British Columbia/Belmont Secondary School) assisted on the Walker goal.
• For Holmes, the assist was just his second point since Dec. 2.
• Ishmael's goal was his fourth of the season. He hadn't scored since Nov. 25, snapping a 15-game drought.
• Quinn and Reed Stark (Suffern, N.Y./Douglas County West) got the assists on the Ishmael goal.
• The Yellowjacket penalty kill was perfect in two chances Friday and has now killed off 19 of its last 20 chances.
• River Falls on 45 of 74 faceoffs in the game.

The Yellowjackets and Falcons will play the second game of their first round WIAC playoff series Saturday night at W.H. Hunt Arena. The opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
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