EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Andrew Kolb (Toledo, OH/Toledo Catholic) and Kevin Gibson (Grosse Pointe, MI/North) each recorded their first goals of the season on Friday evening but it was not enough as the UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team fell 5-2 to third-ranked UW-Eau Claire at Hobbs Ice Arena.

Box Score | Postgame Interview

The Pointers jumped to the early lead at the 4:13 mark of the first, as Kolb scored, unassisted, to put UWSP in front.
Eau Claire answered at the 8:29 mark of the opening period as Daniel Olszewski collected his fifth goal of the season, knotting the score at 1-1.

In the second, a flurry of goals by the Blugolds including two from Kurt Weston and another from Isaiah Bennis gave UWEC a 4-1 advantage.
Gibson's first of the season at the 18:03 mark of the second cut the deficit in half, 4-2, with a period remaining.

In the third, the Pointers outshot the host Blugolds but could not come up with a goal on Brandon Stephenson, and Eau Claire added an empty netter in the final minute for the 5-2 victory.

The Blugolds (10-0-1, 6-0-1 NCHA) held a 40-26 edge in shots on net for the game.

UW-Stevens Point's (4-5-1, 1-5-1 NCHA) Nick Graves (Hewitt, WI/Ashwaubenon) tallied 35 saves on the evening but suffered the loss in net.

The Pointers will try and salvage a weekend split with the Blugolds on Saturday, Dec. 1. Face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire.