UW-River Falls Wins Sixth Straight O’Brien Cup

**UW-River Falls Sports Information contributed to this recap.

RIVER FALLS, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls claimed its sixth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament/O’Brien Cup (presented by Culver’s) with a 4-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire at Hunt Arena on March 8.

It is the 10th O’Brien Cup in program history for the Falcons – most in the conference.

Four different players found the back of the net for UW-River Falls (23-3-2) and after a 1-1 first period, the Falcons scored three unanswered goals to seal the win.

In the opening frame, Katherine Bell and the Falcons took the first lead as she scored off the rush nine and a half minutes in with assists from Kailey Niccum and Madison Lavergne. UW-Eau Claire (19-9) answered at 15:45 with a breakaway goal from Jana Lesch.

UW-River Falls extended its lead to 3-1 in the second period with goals from Megan Goodreau and MaKenna Aure. Nine minutes in, Kaitlyn Ronn set up a drop pass after a zone entry for Goodreau to snipe a wrist shot in the slot past Blugold netminder Alexa Backmann. About six minutes later, an Aure shot from the point on the power play increased the Falcons' lead to two goals heading into the third period.

The home team held the Blugolds to six shots on net in the final 20 minutes, while gaining a three-goal advantage. Just under the seven-minute mark, Kailey Niccum converted on a nice centering feed from Madison Lavergne - who totaled two assists.

Jordan O’Kane made 22 saves in net during her sixth consecutive start, collecting her 16th win.

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