STEVENS POINT – Tyler Krueger (Stevens Point, WI/SPASH)'s goal at 4:13 in the second period brought the Pointers back from an early 0-2 deficit, but they were unable to hold off UW-Eau Claire in the third period and the Blugolds came away with a 4-2 victory at K.B. Willett Arena.

Hosting their first NCHA Playoff game since 2005, the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds (15-10-1, 8-9-1 NCHA) came to Stevens Point trying to take the early advantage in the best of two game quarterfinal matchup.

UW-Eau Claire took the quick upper hand as they managed to take advantage of the games first power play. Four seconds after Blugolds were on their one man advantage, Travis Peckskamp slapped a shot past Nick Graves (Hewitt, WI/Ashwaubenon) just 3:10 into the contest, assist credited to Andrew McCabe.

The Blugolds added on early in the second period as a gathering of both teams formed around the net and UW-Eau Claire's Bryce Wilcox got a stick on it and knocked it in for a 2-0 lead.

Nick Polaski kept the Pointers in the game as he and the Pointers were able to take advantage of a power play with 8:02 left in the second, assists credited to Jon Madden (Brighton, MI/Howell) and Garrett Suter (Madison/Oregon).

Krueger then brought the momentum back to the Pointers side as he scored his first career goal to even the game at two apiece. Chad Boeckman (St. Louis, MO/Wentzville Holt) and Jonny Meo were credited with assists on the play.

The Blugolds answered back in the third period quickly as they score just 49 seconds into the period when Andrew Wilcox intercepted a pass near the blue line and went top corner on Graves to give UW-Eau Claire the lead once again.

The Pointers were unable to take advantage of their only power play opportunity of the period and the Blugolds added an empty net goal late for a 4-2 victory on the road.

The two most penalized teams in the NCHA lived up to it in the second period. Of the games 27 penalties for 54 minutes, 23 penalties for 46 minutes came during the second stanza.

Blugold's goalie Brandon Stephenson tallied the victory stopping 13 shots in 15 attempts. Graves suffered the loss as he save 21 shots in 24 attempts.

The Pointers (12-13-1) will be back in action again tomorrow evening as they face the Blugolds in the final game of the two game series. Should the Pointers win, the two teams will square off in a mini-game to see who advances to the Semifinals. Puck is set to drop at 7 p.m.