Box Score Nicole Grossmann (Lindstrom, MN/Chisago Lakes) scored an overtime shorthanded goal as UW-Stevens Point won the NCAA Division III women's hockey third place game for the second straight year with a 4-3 win over Amherst (Mass.) on Saturday in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

The goal was Grossmann's school record fifth shorthanded score of the year and gave the Pointers their fifth 20-win season in the past six years with a 20-7-2 final record. It also marked the fourth time UW-Stevens Point has ended the season with a victory in its seven-year varsity history.

UW-Stevens Point committed a penalty with 1:57 left in the overtime and was able to clear the puck the length of the ice. As Amherst was attempting to come back the other way, senior defenseman Chris Hanson (South St. Paul, MN/South St. Paul) picked off a pass and fed Grossmann, who made a backhanded move around Lady Jeffs' goaltender Krystyn Elek for the winning score with 1:09 left.

The goal came on a three-on-four shorthanded situation and was the Pointers' third shorthanded score in three NCAA tournament games and their school-record 10th of the year. The goal was Grossmann's first point of the game as the Pointers finished the year 19-0-1 in games in which she scored a point. The game would have been recorded as a tie and gone to a shootout if the five-minute overtime remained tied.

The win also came in the final career contest for senior goaltender Amy Statz (Wisconsin Rapids/Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln) and Hanson. Statz made her 100th career start on Saturday and finished her career as the all-time winningest goalie in Division III history with a 68-19-11 record.

UW-Stevens Point, which beat Gustavus Adolphus 2-0 in last year's third place game, got off to a quick start with two goals in the opening four minutes. Rachael Graves (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji) scored off an assist from Lauren Kellin (Grand Rapids, MN/Grand Rapids) at the 3:31 mark and Michelle Sosnowski (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield Central) followed just 10 seconds later off a pass from Jamie Lewandowski (Rolling Meadows, IL/Fremd) for the fastest two goals in NCAA tournament history.

The Pointers led 2-0 after one period and then killed off nearly a full two minutes of a five-on-three early in the second period. Shortly after, Amherst's Megan Quinn scored a fluke shorthanded goal on a long shot that slipped past Statz, however, the Pointers rallied quickly with a goal from Madison Darud (Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) to regain the two-goal lead. Sosnowski and Trish Piskula (Antigo/Antigo) assisted Darud's goal.

The Lady Jeffs scored with 28 seconds remaining in the second period on a goal by Tarasai Karega and then tied the game with a goal from Karaga just 3:05 into the third period. Neither team was able to mount many scoring chances down the stretch and both goaltenders took care of all opportunities.

UW-Stevens Point held a 36-27 advantage in shots as Statz made 24 saves in her final game. Elek had 12 saves, including 15 in the third period, and allowed just the one goal in overtime. Starter Lindsay Grabowski had 20 saves for Amherst.