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Pointers Open Playoffs by Blanking
Blugolds
Box
Score
UW-Stevens Point picked up right where it left off the
regular season by opening the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association women�s
hockey playoffs with a 3-0 blanking of UW-Eau Claire in Saturday�s semifinals at
Ice Hawks Arena in Stevens Point.
The regular season champion Pointers showed no effects
from a 10-day layoff and advance to the title game for the fourth straight year
to face UW-River Falls, which defeated UW-Superior 5-4 in overtime in the other
semifinal. Sunday�s playoff championship game is set for 5 p.m.
No automatic bid to the NCAA
Division III tournament is awarded to the tournament champion, but one team from
the league is guaranteed an at-large berth and the Pointers put themselves in
good shape after Saturday�s win, improving to 21-2-1 overall.
UW-Stevens Point struck early in each of the three
periods and got solid goaltending from Amy Statz in the victory.
Hilary Bulger scored 5:13 into the first period in the
first of many scoring opportunities for her line with Ashley Howe and Tracy
Truckey that created several offensive attacks for the Pointers. Howe scored
UW-Stevens Point�s second goal at the 1:36 mark of the second period, picking a
puck from a Blugolds� defender and firing a shot past goalie Jill Arendt for an
unassisted goal.
Freshman Katy Lankey scored the third goal for the
Pointers, getting assists from classmates Jessie Suter and Jamie Lewandowski at
the 3:26 mark of the third period.
UW-Eau Claire had quality scoring chances and fired 15
shots on goal, recording five each period, but Statz was strong in net all game
while posting her eighth shutout of the year. She now has 19 victories this
season, which ranks second in the NCAA Division III.
UW-Stevens Point peppered the goal with 34 shots on
goal as Arendt made 31 saves for the Blugolds, who are 14-9-1 and play
UW-Superior for third place on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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