|
Pointers'
Postseason Run Ends Against Middlebury
Box
Score
Like many other teams over recent seasons,
UW-Stevens Point�s magical postseason women�s hockey run came to an end at
the hands of Middlebury as the three-time defending national champions beat
the Pointers 5-1 in a national semifinal on Friday in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
The Panthers will go after a fourth straight NCAA
Division III title on Saturday against either Amherst (Mass.) or Plattsburgh
State (N.Y.), while UW-Stevens Point will play in the third place game for
the second straight year. The Pointers beat Gustavus Adolphus 2-0 in last
year's third place contest and have a chance to end their season with a
victory for the fourth time in seven years.
UW-Stevens Point held an 11-8 edge in shots in the
first period, but Middlebury scored the only goal when Karen Levin scored a
power play goal at the 13:12 mark of the period.
The Panthers struck again with goals early in each
of the next two periods. Ellen Sargent scored just 1:11 into the second
period and then assisted a goal by Molly Vitt at the 1:25 mark of the third
period.
UW-Stevens Point committed a penalty shortly after
the Panthers� third goal and Middlebury converted with a power play goal
from Abby Kurtz-Phelan for a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Pointers scored their only goal at the 10:53
mark of the final period when Katy Lankey scored shorthanded with an assist
from Jessie Suter. The goal added to the Pointers� single-season school
record as their ninth shorthanded score of the season. It also was Lankey�s
fourth of the year, matching Nicole Grossmann�s team lead and single-season
individual mark.
UW-Stevens Point pulled the goaltender for an
extra attacker late in the game, but Middlebury stole the puck and scored
just eight seconds later as Shannon Sylvester scored an empty net goal with
55 seconds left in the game.
Middlebury held a 31-28 advantage in shots and
improved to 3-0 all-time against the Pointers, having also posted a 2-1 win
in the 2004 national title game. Lani Wright had 26 saves for the Panthers
and Amy Statz made 25 saves for UW-Stevens Point. |
