Box Score

EAU CLAIRE - The seventh-ranked UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team came just :08 away from a 3-3 tie with the Blugold of UW-Eau Claire, but UWEC scored at the 4:42 mark of the overtime period to steal the 4-3 victory.

UWEC jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the first period off a Taylor Jenkins goal at 6:50 on a power play opportunity. UW-Stevens Point came fighting back in the second as Kellye Nelson (Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Nicole Grossmann (Lindstrom, MN/Chisago Lakes) (Lindstrom, Minn.) each tallied even goals to give the Pointers the 2-1 advantage.

In the third, UW-Eau Claire's Lauren Harvard found the back of the net to tie the game a 2-2 just over 5:48 into the period, the second power play goal of the game for the Blugolds. Grossmann answered back under a minute later, scoring on the power play to again give the Pointers the one goal edge, 3-2.

UW-Eau Claire's Kelli Johnson tied the game at the 9:08 mark, scoring unassisted. From there, both goalkeepers turned away shot after shot, forcing the Pointers fourth overtime game of the year.

In overtime, UWEC's Jackie McKay tallied just her fourth goal of the season, beating UWSP netminder d”Andra Phillips (Swartz Creek, Mich.) for the game-winning power play goal.

Eau Claire outshot the Stevens Point 31-18 while UWEC goalkeeper Morgan Pieper earned her sixth win of the season, notching 15 saves on the night. Phillips notched 27 saves on the evening for the Pointers. The win was the first for the Blugolds in their last six tries against the Pointers, who hold the all-time series lead 26-3-1.

The Pointers and Blugolds return to action tomorrow, Jan. 17, closing out the weekend series. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center.