Box Score

RIVER FALLS - Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Player of the Year Nicole Grossmann (Lindstrom, MN, Chisago Lakes) scored two goals and Kellye Nelson (Lino Lakes, MN, Centennial) and Michelle Sosnowski (Plainfield, IL, Plainfield Central) each added goals of their own as the Pointers defeated the Falcons of Concordia University 4-1 in the opening round of the O'Brien Cup Playoffs, hosted by UW-River Falls.

Nelson got the Pointers on the board at the 6:15 mark of the first period, scoring her 11th goal of the season unassisted. Sosnowski added her eighth goal of the season at the end of the first period, scoring on the power play off a Grossmann assist, giving the Pointers the 2-0 advantage after one.

In the second, Grossmann tallied her 17th and 18th goals of the season off Dana Carothers (Burnsville, MN, Burnsville) and Sarah Phillips (Kelowna, B.C.) assists, one at the 8:01 mark and the other at the 15:31 mark, giving the Pointers a 4-0 advantage through two periods of play.

In the third, Concordia's Sarah Luberda notched her 12th goal of the season :13 into the third, but d'Andra Phillips (Swartz Creek, Mich.) recorded six of her 23 saves the rest of the way, sealing the victory for the Pointers.

UWSP (15-5-6) advances to the semifinal round of the tournament where they will face either No. 1 seeded UW-River Falls or No. 2 seeded UW-Superior on Saturday, Feb. 28.