RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The No. 7 UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team (13-3-1, 7-1-0) needed a last-minute goal from Conor Witherspoon (Metamora, Mich.) to earn a 4-3 win on Friday night to begin a weekend series at UW-River Falls (11-7-0, 3-5-0).
 
The host Falcons took the lead at the 5:22 mark of the first period and held the 1-0 lead after one despite UWSP out-shooting UWRF, 13-8.
 
Fletcher Anderson (Thunder Bay, Ont./Sir William Churchill) got the Pointers on the board at 8:20 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Sean Bunting (Phoenix, Ariz.) picked up the assist on the goal.
 
Brett Humberstone (Kingston, Ont.) gave the Pointers a 2-1 advantage with a power-play goal at the 14:39 mark of the second. Nicholas Aromatario (Woodbridge, Ont.) and David Hill (Glen Mills, Pa.) had helpers.
 
The lead lasted just eight seconds before UWRF tied the game at 2-2. Later in the second, the Falcons regained the lead at 18:40 of the second and the Pointers trailed, 3-2, heading to the third.
 
Bunting pulled UWSP even at the 12:53 mark of the third. Dawson Sciarrino (Greensburg, Pa.) and Harrison Stewart (Rockford, Ill.) had the assists.
 
The game remained tied until the final minute of regulation. Witherspoon rocketed a slapper into the net with just 56.7 seconds left for the eventual game-winner. Nico Chmelevski (Northville, Mich.) and Tyler German (Canton, Mich.) had assists to set up the goal.
 
UWSP goaltender Alex Proctor (Allen, Texas) had 22 saves in the win. UWRF Dean Buchholz had 34 saves.
 
The Pointers and Falcons wrap up the season series on Saturday (Jan. 20) with a 7:00 p.m. game in River Falls.