University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Athletics

UW-Stevens Point scored two early goals and then let its national-leading defense take over as the Pointers clinched their second NCAA Division III women's hockey frozen four berth in three seasons with a 2-0 win over UW-Superior on Saturday at Ice Hawks Arena in Stevens Point.
    
The Pointers, who extended their national-best unbeaten streak to 15 straight games, will have a chance to avenge its most recent defeat when they play at Plattsburgh State (N.Y.) in the national semifinals on Friday. The Cardinals are the nation's top-ranked team and beat the Pointers 3-1 on Jan. 6 in Henniker, N.H.
    
UW-Stevens Point clinched its fourth 20-win season in the last five years and continued its dominance this season over its Northern Collegiate Hockey Association rival. UW-Superior finished the year 22-4-2 with all four losses and a tie coming in five meetings with the Pointers. UW-Stevens Point is now 7-0-1 in its last eight matchups with the Yellowjackets.
    
The Pointers controlled the first period, outshooting the Yellowjackets 15-3 in the frame. Junior defender Chris Hanson (South Saint Paul, MN/South Saint Paul), who scored her first goal of the season for the game-winner in last week's 4-2 win over UW-Superior in the NCHA playoff finals, had the game-winner for the second straight game after launching a power play goal from the blueline that was assisted by Nicole Grossmann and Jamie Lewandowski (Rolling Meadows, IL/Fremd) at the 7:18 mark of the first period. UW-Stevens Point scored again at the 18:07 mark when Kim Lunneborg (Richfield, MN/Richfield) converted a rebound goal with assists from Michelle Sosnowski (Plainfield, IL/Central) and Grossmann.
    
The goals turned out to be all the offense needed for the Pointers, who have allowed just 31 goals in their 28 games this year, including only nine during the current 15-game streak. UW-Stevens Point allowed the Yellowjackets few quality offensive chances and those UW-Superior did have were turned away by junior goaltender Amy Statz (Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Wisconsin Rapids), who stopped seven shots in the third period and nine in the third for her ninth shutout of the season. UW-Superior was shutout for just the second time this year with the other coming in a 1-0 setback to the Pointers in January.
    
In fact, UW-Stevens Point was so defensive-minded in the third period that the Pointers set a tournament record for fewest shots in a period with zero. The Pointers held the previous record with one in the first period of last year's quarterfinal loss to Gustavus Adolphus.
    
UW-Stevens Point also advanced to the finals in 2004 and lost to Middlebury in the title game.