Women’s Hockey Splits Weekend Series
​Michelle Lunneborg prepares for a face-off against Lake Forest. Photo by Jack McLaughlin.

Women’s Hockey Splits Weekend Series

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Points women’s hockey team played two gamesin Illinois this weekend against Lake Forest College. Both games went to overtime, with the Pointers winning Saturday 2-1, and losing Sunday, 4-3.

         
With the win Saturday the Pointers were able to snap their five game losing streak, but Sunday’s loss came in heart breaking fashion.
 
Saturday’s action began in the first period when the Pointers took advantage of a power play, when junior forward Michelle Lunneborg netted a goal making the score 1-0. Senior forward Erin Marvin, and junior forward Brooke Hanson assisted the goal.
         
The Pointer’s defense held strong for the rest of the first period, and the entire second period.
With two minutes left in the third period the Pointers were still holding on to a one point lead, until Lake Forest junior defender Angie Chronis shot the unassisted equalizer past freshman goalie Janna Beilke-Skoug, making the score 1-1.
         
Regulation time ended with a tie, and the game was sent to overtime. The Pointers didn’t wait long to strike, as Lunneborg scored an unassisted goal, her second of the game, on another power play at the 2:47 mark, and the game went to Stevens Point, 2-1.
         
“I thought our team played well for the whole 60 minutes on Saturday afternoon,” said Pointer women’s hockey coach Ann Ninnemann. “Our team defense was good throughout the whole game.”
 
With the two goals, Lunneborg now has seven on the season. Beilke-Skoug recorded the victory, tallying 25 saves during the game.
         
Lake Forest’s sophomore goalie Stacey Dierking logged 34 saves, but was charged with the loss.
         
The Pointers had a great start Sunday as sophomore forward Cassandra Salmen put Stevens Point on the board first with an unassisted goal at the 6:21 mark. One minute later Salmen scored another goal, assisted by Hansen and Marvin.
         
The Pointers finished off their great first period with an unassisted goal by Marvin with three minutes left in the period, taking a 3-0 lead. Stevens Point out shot Lake Forest 17-13 during the first 20 minutes.
         
Freshman goalie Jenna Brankin was relieved of her goalie duties after the end of the first period, and Dierking entered the game. It looked like easy sailing for the Pointers, but the Foresters mounted a comeback for the ages.
Lake Forest got on the board at 5:46 in the second period with a goal by junior forward Jenn Caldwell, assisted by senior forward Jessica Dare, and senior forward Kim Herring, bringing the score to 3-1.
 
Six minutes later Dare scored another goal, assisted by sophomore defender Stephanie Slinde and Chronis, bringing the score to 3-2.
 
The Forester’s tied the score at 3-3 with less than three minutes left in the game on an unassisted goal by freshman forward Marissa Weber, sending the game to overtime.
 
After just three minutes into overtime Weber completed the comeback by scoring another goal on a power play, making the score 3-4. The goal was assisted by Herring and senior defender Molly Wallner.
 
Dierking recorded a team high 19 saves and was given the win. Beilke-Skoug tallied a career high 39 saves, but was credited with the loss.
 
“We need to work on bouncing back from individual mistakes or allowing a goal,” said Ninnemann. “When Lake Forest started to score in the second period on Sunday, they seem to have caught us on our heels.”
 
The Pointers’ record stands at 10-11-2 and a conference record of 9-8-1. The Foresters record is 13-7-2, and is 12-5-1 in conference play.
 
“It’s now time we need to get everything in gear because playoffs are coming up and that is when we have to be at our best,” Ninnemann said.
 
The Lady Pointers will finish up the regular season this weekend with a two game home series against Concordia University of Wisconsin. The first game will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the second at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Both games will be played at Ice Hawks Arena.

Will Rossmiller

Reporter

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