ST. PAUL, Minn. – The UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team (1-2-1) stayed with No. 8 St. Thomas (3-0-0) in a close 2-1 defeat in Minnesota on Friday night.
 
Freshman McKenna Butcher (Sun Prairie, WI/Madison Capitols) netted her first career goal in the second period as the Pointers tried to climb out of a 2-0 hole.  Senior defender Ellie Punnett (Hailey, ID/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) picked up her second assist of the year to take the team lead with four points on the season.
 
The two teams played to a scoreless first frame before the home team broke through at 10:47 of the second period.  Exactly 30 seconds later, the Tommies netted a second goal to double the deficit.
 
Butcher scored at the 17:33 mark of the second period, but the Pointers were held to just four shots in the final period in the one-goal loss.
 
Junior goaltender Sydney Conley (South St. Paul, MN/South St. Paul) turned away 34 shots while UST's keeper made 14 saves for the win.
 
The Pointers and Tommies conclude the two-game series on Saturday (Nov. 4) with a 2:00 p.m. game.