STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Mecham (Waunakee, WI/Waunakee) was busy, but solid in net as the home-standing UW-Stevens Point women's soccer team (0-2-0) dropped a close 1-0 match to visiting Macalester (1-0-1) on Saturday afternoon.
 
The visiting Scots had the lion share of the shots early in the match.  Junior Danielle Thomason (Stevens Point, WI/SPASH) fired the first Pointer shot in the 12th minute, but it was blocked by a Macalester defender.  In the 29th minute, the visitors got on the board after a cross was deflected in at the back post.
 
The one-goal deficit gave the Pointers an opportunity to equalize with every shot taken.  In the second half, freshman Reilly Louko (Oakfield, WI/North Fond du Lac) and sophomore Olivia Bohnert (Oshkosh, WI/Fox Valley Lutheran) each had shots blocked by the defense.  UWSP's best attempt to pull even came in the 65th minute when Thomason poked a shot past the Scots' goalkeeper, but it was swept off the line by a defender.
 
Head coach Dawn Crow's side showed marked improvement in the second match of the season.  Her side took six shots led by Thomason, who had two.
 
The Pointers travel to Augustana (Ill.) on Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. kick to wrap up the opening weekend of action.