ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team (0-3) dropped a 5-0 nonconference decision to No. 4 UW-River Falls (3-0) at Ritsche Arena in the home opener on Thursday night.

The Bennies have opened 0-3 but have played two of the top seven teams in NCAA DIII. CSB also lost twice on the road to No. 7 UW-Eau Claire last weekend. After the third match up against a DIII top-10 team on Nov. 2, the Bennies will have a home/away with Concordia-Moorhead next week. In its MIAC opener, the Bennies will host Concordia (1-0-0) on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., before traveling to Moorhead, Minn., for a game with the Cobbers on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.

Game Summary
After the defenses-controlled action through the first two periods and UW-River Falls holding to a 1-0 lead, the Falcons were able to break it open in the final stanza with four goals.
In the opening period, the defenses controlled the action early before Megan Goodreau of UW-River Falls scored an even strength goal at 11:43. Assisting on the play was Maddie McCollins and Makenna Kadrilik. In that opening period, UW-River Falls outshot CSB, 12-to-5. The Falcons also held a 13-to-7 edge in face offs.

In the second period, both teams had several opportunities on the offensive end but the defense and solid goal keeping playing a crucial role as neither team put up a goal. The Falcons had a 23-to-15 edge in shots. UW-RF had a 9-to-4 margin in face offs.  

At 4:50 of the third period, Allisen Carothers scored an even-strength goal off McCollins' second assist as the Falcons grabbed a 2-0 advantage. At 6:01 of the period, Goodreau tallied a short-handed goal of the season for a 3-0 lead. About eight minutes later at 14:38, Alex Hantge scored an unassisted short-handed goal on a breakaway for the 4-0 lead. The Falcons closed the scoring with a goal from MaKenna Aure off an assist from Holly Eckers at the 18:20 mark. In the final period, the Falcons had a 27-to-6 shots edge.

For the game, UW-River Falls owned a 71-to-29 shots edge, including 38-to-21 in shots on goals. They also won 35-of-61 face offs.

The Bennies offense was led by Corrine Brown with four shots while Emma Rooks and Jamie Benzie both had three shots. In goal, CSB's Kate Moffat at 33 saves against the 38 shots on goal.