La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team earned its first win of the season with 37-20 victory over UW-River Falls Saturday afternoon at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles improve to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Falcons fall to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

UW-L snapped an eight-game losing streak overall dating back to last season. 

The Eagles earned their 18th straight victory over the Falcons with Saturday's win. 

UW-L took a 7-0 lead on its first possession of the game as Nick Anker hit Lee Lauters for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles went 36 yards on five plays to score as the drive was set-up by Mike Butterfield's 55-yard kickoff return.

UW-River Falls tied it at 7-7 later in the quarter as it went 18 plays and 95 yards, taking 7:58 off the clock. John Schimenz scored on a two-yard run with 2:04 left in the period. 

The Falcons took a 14-7 lead with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter as Schimenz scored on a four-yard run. UW-River Falls' Chad Blair had converted a 26-yard field goal, but UW-L was called for a personal foul setting up the Falcons at the Eagles' four-yard line. 

Anker came right back on the next drive connecting with Ross Slovensky on a 13-yard touchdown pass. Billy Niggemann forced a Falcons' fumble on the next play from scrimmage and one play later, Butterfield scored on a 47-yard touchdown run and 21-14 UW-L lead. 

UW-L stopped Schimenz on a fourth-and-one play at the Eagles' 37-yard line with 2:16 left in the first half and UW-L went 63 yards on six plays with Brock Larson running in from two-yards out to make it 28-14 at halftime.

The Eagles led 30-14 after the Falcons' snapped the ball over punter Dustin Samplawski's head for a safety. UW-L led 37-14 with 6:31 remaining in the third as Anker and Lauters combined on a 27-yard touchdown pass. UW-River Falls finished the scoring as B.J. LeTourneau connected with John Wahlstrom with a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Falcons' two-point attempt failed.

UW-L finished with 380 yards of offense, including 202 rushing and 178 passing. Anker was 13-of-22 for 178 yards and three touchdowns while Lauters led the Eagles with 82 yards rushing on 12 carries (6.8 average). Anker and Butterfield both finished with 45 yards rushing. Lauters caught four passes for 40 yards with two touchdowns. UW-L's Travis Bordeau led the team with five receptions for 81 yards. 

UW-River Falls totaled 372 yards, including 142 rushing and 230 passing. LeTourneau finished 20-of-29 for 230 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked four times. Schimenz had 85 yards rushing on 20 attempts and two touchdowns. Greg Klingelhutz led the Falcons with eight receptions for 93 yards. Wahlstrom finished with four catches for 74 yards and the touchdown.

The Falcons finished with 24 first downs and won the time of possession, 35:28 to 24:32. UW-River Falls was seven-of-16 on third-down and four turnovers (three fumbles, one interception). UW-L totaled 20 first downs, were five-of-10 on third-down and finished with one turnover (fumble). 

Jim Litscher led the UW-L defense with 13 tackles while Dustin Drath had 11. Both players totaled eight solo tackles. Drath, Donovan Winter and David Van Lieshout each had a fumble recovery whileJake Meckstroth had an interception. Winter also had two quarterback sacks while Jason Church andNick Berg also finished with a quarterback sack. 

Lincoln Bjorklund and Mike Cano led UW-River Falls with seven tackles. Bjorklund has six solo tackles, including one for loss. Ryan Bartsch had 1.5 quarterback sacks for the Falcons.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, October 16 hosting UW-Platteville at 1 p.m.