Box Score

CHICAGO – In the seventh round of penalty kicks Jackie Spees (Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) (So-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) beat the goalkeeper to send the UW-Stevens Point soccer team into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament today defeating the University of Chicago 5-4 in penalty kicks.

 
It was the first time ever that the Pointers had gone into penalty kicks.

The first 110 minutes of action was a defensive battle. Amanda Prawat (Oregon/Oregon) (Jr.-Oregon) had a chance early in the contest, but had a shot deflect off the post. The Maroons also had many chances in regulation and overtime, but Pointers' goalkeeper Meredith DeCaluwe (Naperville, IL/Central) (Naperville, IL/Central) played fantastic in net, including a diving stop in the second overtime to save the season for Stevens Point.

So after 110 minutes the game had to be decided by penalty kicks. Chicago was the first to shoot. Both teams converted on the first round of penalty kicks as Kaylee Weise (Brookfield/East) (Jr.-Brookfield/East) scored for the Pointers. The Maroons had the advantage after the second round as the Pointers were unsuccessful. DeCaluwe stepped up in the third round stopping Chicago's attempt and Andrea Peiffer (Mequon/Homestead) (Fr.-Mequon/Homestead) tied the contest back up. The tally was 3-3 after the fourth round of penalty kicks as Prawat delivered for the Pointers. It stayed tied after the fifth round as Mary Jean Cornelius (West Bend/West) (Fr.-West Bend/West) kept the Pointers alive.

After five rounds of penalty kicks, the match would be decided by a round-by-round basis. DeCaluwe stopped Chicago's attempt in the sixth round so that meant that Stevens Point had a chance to win. However, the Pointers were stopped and the match continued. DeCaluwe then came up big again in the seventh round, stopping the Maroons attempt so the Pointers had another chance to win. Stevens Point prevailed this time around as Spees put one in the back of the net as the Pointers season continues with a 5-4 victory in penalty kicks.

 
The Pointers move on to face defending champion Wheaton College in the sectional semifinal. The match will either take place Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.