STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The No. 9 UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team (18-6-2) erased a three-goal deficit only to see visiting UW-Eau Claire (13-14-1) net a late game winner as UWSP fell, 4-3, in game one of the WIAC Tournament semifinals (presented by Culver's).
 
The Blugolds broke a scoreless tie at the 4:57 mark of the second period. UWEC added goals at 6:37 and 8:43 to take a 3-0 lead in the second period.
 
Hunter O'Brien (Cambridge, Ont.) tallied his first career goal with 40.9 seconds left in the second period. Matthew Falls (Toronto,Ont.) and Gino Colangelo (Newmarket, Ont.) had assists on the goal.
 
Dawson Sciarrino (Greensburg, Pa.) rifled a shot into the net off the draw at 3:42 of the third period to get UWSP within one. Chris Engelbert (Whitby, Ont.) got the assist by winning the faceoff back to Sciarrino.
 
Andrew Poulias (Whitby, Ont.) completed the comeback with the game-tying goal at 12:07 on the power play. Sean Bunting (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Fletcher Anderson (Thunder Bay, Ont.) picked up assists to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The Blugolds got the final goal of the night at 14:56 of the third.
 
UWSP goaltender Alex Proctor (Allen, Texas) had 35 saves on the night. UWEC goaltender Ethan Roberts had 18 saves.
 
The Pointers and Blugolds face off again on Saturday (March 1) in game two of the semifinals. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m.