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Pointers Top
Gusties to Return to Frozen Four
Box
Score
For the second straight year and third time in
four seasons, UW-Stevens Point will play in the NCAA Division III women�s
hockey frozen four after beating Gustavus Adolphus 4-1 on Saturday in St.
Peter, Minn.
The Pointers scored two goals in the first period
and made it stand despite being outshot 38-13 for the game, including 16-3
in the third period. UW-Stevens Point held the nation�s top power play unit
scoreless in eight opportunities as the Pointers improved to 19-6-2 overall.
Gustavus Adolphus ended the year 25-3 overall and had won 25 of its last 26
games after losing its season opener to UW-Stevens Point.
The teams were meeting in the NCAA tournament for
the fourth straight year and UW-Stevens Point has won three of the games.
The Pointers also won 2-0 in last year�s national third place game and 3-2
in the 2004 quarterfinals in St. Peter. Gustavus Adolphus won at UW-Stevens
Point in the 2005 quarterfinals. In fact, there have only been five road
tournament wins in the six-year history of the Division III tournament and
three have been in the series between the Pointers and Gusties.
UW-Stevens Point advances to face defending
national champion Middlebury (Vt.) on Friday in Plattsburgh, N.Y., which is
the same site as last year�s frozen four.
The Pointers scored two goals in the last five
minutes of the third period with Nicole Grossmann netting a goal from a
tough angle off pass from Michelle Sosnowski and Kellye Nelson adding a
breakaway goal with an assist by Madison Darud.
In the second period, the Pointers� Chris Hanson
cleared the puck the length of the ice to kill off another power play and
Grossmann chased down the loose puck, feeding Trish Piskula for a goal with
12:21 left in the period.
Gustavus Adolphus had a five-on-three power play
for 1:16 of the third period, but the Pointers managed to kill off the
penalty before Stephanie Ubl finally broke the shutout with a shot through a
screen. It was the only blemish on an outstanding performance by Pointers�
goaltender Amy Statz, who finished with 37 saves in her eighth NCAA
tournament start.
The Pointers were whistled for
a too many players on the ice penalty with 1:52 left in the game, but took
advantage of the shorthanded opportunity by clearing the puck the length of
the ice without icing the puck. UW-Stevens Point added a late goal when Katy
Lankey poked
the puck away from a Gusties� defender into an empty net with 1:28
remaining.
UW-Stevens Point did not even register a shot in
six power play opportunities, while Gustavus Adolphus had 20 shots in its
eight power plays. |
