STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Jono Davis (La Verne, CA) scored with 1:20 remaining in the third period but the No. 3/4 UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team could not find a tying goal in a 2-1 loss to No. 8/10 UW-Eau Claire on Senior Night on Saturday evening at K.B. Willett Arena.
 
Box Score
 
Down 2-0 with time winding down, Eliot Grauer (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) found Davis open on the back door for Davis' 14th goal of the season after UW-Stevens Point (19-5-1, 5-3-0 WIAC) pulled goaltender Max Milosek (Lapeer, MI) for the extra skater. The Pointers continued to pile the pressure on UW-Eau Claire (15-5-5, 5-2-1 WIAC) but Jay Deo made two saves in the final 1:06 as part of a 46-save performance for the visitors.
 
The loss and UW-River Falls' win over UW-Stout mean UW-Stevens Point will be the third seed for the upcoming Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship and will face second-seeded UW-Eau Claire.
 
The Pointers outshot the Blugolds 47-16 in the game but Deo was the difference, making 13 saves in the first and third periods and 20 in the second.
 
Patrick Moore opened the scoring for UW-Eau Claire, putting in a loose puck in front of the net on the power play to give the Blugolds a 1-0 lead 7:36 into the first period.
 
With 2:04 to play in the second period, Brandon Wahlin found the back of the net off assists from Derek Knetter and Todd Koritzinsky to give UW-Eau Claire a 2-0 advantage heading into the final period of play, despite being outshot 33-12.
 
Milosek made 14 saves in the loss, seven of which came in third period. The Pointers were held scoreless on five power-play attempts despite firing 10 shots, while the Blugolds were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
 
The game was the final regular-season home game in the careers of a nine-man senior class. The class has helped UW-Stevens Point to a 79-29-5 record over the last four seasons and back-to-back national runner-up finishes in the last two years.
 
The Pointers and Blugolds will begin their WIAC Championship semifinal series on Friday, Feb. 26 at Hobbs Ice Center at a time to be announced.