STEVENS POINT, Wis. - After facing the top-two teams in the nation in Vermont, the UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team returned home and played to a 3-3 tie against conference opponent UW-Eau Claire on Friday evening at Ice Hawks Arena.
 
Box Score
 
UW-Stevens Point (5-4-2, 1-2-2 WIAC) took its only lead of the night at 3-2 midway through the third period on Emily Lester (Eau Claire, WI/Memorial)'s team-high seventh goal of the season. However, Jennifer Thomsen scored with 3:33 remaining in regulation for UW-Eau Claire (3-4-3, 1-2-2 WIAC) to send the game to overtime, where neither team could find a decisive goal.
 
With the tie, the Pointers remain unbeaten all-time against the Blugolds at home (25-0-2).
 
The offenses for both teams got off to slow starts but the Blugolds got on the scoreboard first at 16:57 of the first period on a goal by Lauren Norgren. The Pointers came back early in the second on a power-play goal by Lauren Smith (Antigo, WI/Antigo) from Emily Lester (Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) at 2:08 for the freshman's first collegiate goal.
 
Just over a minute later, UW-Eau Claire's Danielle Lucker put the Blugolds back ahead, finding the back of the net at 3:42 with an unassisted goal. Goals by Ellie Punnett (Hailey, ID/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) and Lester at 5:25 and 9:14 of the third period put the Pointers in position for the win prior to Thomsen's late goal
 
In overtime, UWSP goaltender Sydney Conley (South St. Paul, MN/South St. Paul) did not face a shot, while the offense got four shots off, but couldn't put one home. Conley made 17 stops in the tie, while UWEC's Paige Turner made 29 stops. UWSP held a 32-20 advantage in shots in the game.
 
The two teams meet again on Saturday afternoon to finish the two-game series at Hobbs Ice Arena at 2 p.m.