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 (Lindstrom, MN/Chisago Lakes) netting a goal from a tough angle off pass from Michelle Sosnowski (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield Central) and Kellye Nelson (Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial) adding a breakaway goal with an assist by Madison Darud (Apple Valley, MN/Eastview).

In the second period, the Pointers' Chris Hanson (South St. Paul, MN/South St. Paul) cleared the puck the length of the ice to kill off another power play and Grossmann chased down the loose puck, feeding Trish Piskula (Antigo/Antigo) 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 (Wisconsin Rapids/Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln), 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 (Baraboo/Baraboo) 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.