EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team (5-12-0, 1-5-0) opened its season series with No. 11 UW-Eau Claire (14-4-0, 5-1-0) and came up short, 2-0.
 
UWSP goaltender Emily Griege (Chesterfield, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy) shined in net for the Pointers making 39 saves and allowing just one goal. She posted a .975 save percentage, her highest in a non-shutout on the season.
 
The Blugolds got their only shot past Griege at the 7:00 mark of the first period. Griege made nine other saves in the first period to keep the game at 1-0.
 
Neither team scored in the second period and Griege racked up 18 more saves to keep the deficit at one.  Greige had 12 more saves int eh third period until UWSP pulled her for the extra attacker with 36 seconds left. The Blugolds added an empty-net goal with nine seconds remaining.
 
UWEC goaltender Alexa Backmann made 12 saves in the win. Courtney Leising (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) led the Pointers with five of those shots.
 
The Pointers and Blugolds tussle again on Saturday (Jan. 20) with a 2:00 p.m. puck drop at K.B. Willett Arena.