RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Northland College Men's Hockey team was barely edged out by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 1-0 Saturday night in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play in River Falls, Wis.
 
The Jacks fall to 1-11 overall and 0-6 in the conference and the Falcons improve to 5-4 and 2-3 in the WIAC.
 
In the first period, the Jacks recorded five shots in the first period with Bryson Cecconi sending the first shot the goal tenders way. Northland was a man down twice in the first period and only allowed five shots between the four minutes. Those four minutes were the only time the Jacks were down a man. In net, Viktor Wennberg made 16 saves resulting in a 0-0 first period.
 
Northland totaled two more shots in the second period. UWRF's offense also tallied more shots in the second with 20 shots on goal. Wennberg saved the first 19 shots but with 48 seconds remaining in the period, the Falcons found the back of the net.
 
NC had 10 shots in the final period and held UW-River Falls to its fewest with 14. Neither team could beat the goalie in the last period. The Jacks pulled their goaltender with just over two minutes to play. Soon after the Jacks were on the powerplay to have two more skaters than UWRF. NC had three with the extra men but was not able to level the game and lost 1-0.
 
The Jacks recorded 22 shots in the game with freshman Ben Stewart leading the team with four. Zach Ross and Eric Honold were behind Stewart with three. NC won 31-of-75 faceoffs with Brandon Holt winning 17-of-31.
 
Ben Varga led the defense in blocks with four of the teams 18. Ross was behind him with three. In net, Wennberg made his second-most saves in a game this season with 49. He ended the game with a 98 percent save rate.
 
The Jacks will play their last home game until February as they host the College of St. Scholastica on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.