University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Athletics

Finally the fingernails and blood pressure were safe for the UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team.
     
After playing five consecutive one-goal games, including a pair of double overtime contests, the Pointers rolled to a 4-1 win over Manhattanville (N.Y.) on Friday in the NCAA Division III semifinals in Middlebury, Vt.
     
UW-Stevens Point will face host Middlebury in the national championship game on Saturday. The Panthers defeated Plattsburgh State (N.Y.) 2-1 in the other semifinal.
     
Kim Lunneborg (Richfield, MN/Richfield) continued her hot postseason with a pair of goals, including the game's first goal at the 14:29 mark of the second period. Lunneborg has scored points in each of the team's four postseason games.
     
The Pointers' Hilary Bulger (White Bear Lake, MN/White Bear Lake) added a power play goal with 14 seconds left in the third period to give UW-Stevens Point a 2-0 lead.
     
Just 2:39 into the third period Ann Ninnemann scored unassisted to push the Pointers' lead to 3-0. Amy Statz (Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Wisconsin Rapids) then made 14 of her 33 saves in the third period to preserve the victory.
     
Manhattanville's Nicole Stephens scored with 3:42 left, but Lunneborg scored just 1:41 later to seal the win. The four goals matched the most allowed by the top-ranked Valiants this season and snapped their nine-game unbeaten streak. UW-Stevens Point is now 19-6-4, while Manhattanville is 23-3-2.
     
The Valiants held a 34-26 advantage in shots on goal and were runner-up in the tournament in each of its first two years.
     
UW-Stevens Point is the first Northern Collegiate Hockey Association team to qualify for the national title game. Middlebury also is playing in its first championship game and beat the Pointers 3-2 earlier this season.