The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Men’s Hockey
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s hockey team advanced to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship after facing UW-Superior in the WIAC semifinals. Despite beating the Yellow Jackets 7-0 in their last game, the Pointers faced tough competition from UW-Superior. Their first game on Feb. 27 ended in a 1-1 tie. Forward Kyle Sharkey had the lone goal for UWSP and goaltender Brandon Jaeger made 28 saves. In the second deciding game, UWSP scored three goals in the third period for a 5-3 comeback win. Forwards Lawrence Cornellier, Scott Henegar and defenseman Kevin Gibson scored third-period goals to lead UWSP to victory. UWSP will host the UW-River Falls Falcons on Mar. 7 for the Commissioner’s Cup at Willet Arena.
Photo by Jack McLaughlin.
Women’s Hockey
The UWSP women’s hockey team swept UW-Superior in the WIAC semifinals, advancing to the championship for its second straight season. In the first game, forward Emily Lester scored two goals to lead UWSP to the 2-1 win. The following day, five different Pointers scored as UWSP shutout the Yellowjackets 5-0. The Pointers scored three first period goals from forwards Ali Biagini, Kat Nejedlo and Rachel Reynard. Goaltender Janna Beilke-Skoug made 29 saves for her fourth shutout of the season. UWSP will travel to UW-River Falls to face the top seeded Falcons in a rematch of last year’s WIAC championship where Falcons won the O’Brien Cup 5-1.
Men’s Basketball
The UWSP men’s basketball team was upset at home versus UW-Oshkosh 50-47 in the WIAC semifinals. The Titans’ win avenges an earlier loss at UWSP, when the Pointers won on a half-court buzzer beater from Alex Richard. In the second half, the Pointers jumped out to a 39-29 lead after a 15-2 run. Alex Olson of Oshkosh hit a go-ahead three with 1:13 left, and Pointers forward Stephen Pelkofer missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer. UWSP was led in scoring by forward Jordan Lutz and guard Austin Ryf, each scoring 14 points. The Pointers received an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament on March 2. UWSP will host Concordia in the first round at 8 p.m. March 6 in Quandt Gym.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team’s season came to an end after losing to UW-Superior in the WIAC semifinals. Before UW-Superior, the Pointers defeated UW-Platteville in the quarterfinals, 61-55, behind double-doubles from forwards Allie Miceli and Kaitlyn Jacobs. Jacobs had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Miceli came off the bench for 14 points and 11 rebounds. At Superior, the Pointers fell to the Yellow Jackets 58-36, after defeating UW-Superior the week prior. Miceli led the team again with 11 points and Jamie Destache added 11 points. The Pointers season ended with a 14-13 record overall and 8-8 in the WIAC.
Photo by Jack McLaughlin.
Track and Field
The track and field teams competed in the WIAC Indoor championships at UW-Platteville. The women’s team finished in fifth out of nine places with 66 points. Shannon Burke finished first in pole vault, and Audra Weis placed fourth in the event. The men’s team finished sixth out of nine with 59.50 points. The men’s distance medley team of Michael Evans, Nick Melotte, Ryan Wierzba and Dane Tyler placed first in the event. Jerry Williams finished second in triple jump and fifth in long jump.
Softball
The Pointers softball season began in Rochester, Minnesota and went 2-2. UWSP lost the first game to Carleton College, 7-4, after being shutdown most of the game. In the second game against Dubuque University, UWSP won 8-0 in five innings as sophomore pitcher Sydney Gorges threw a perfect game in the shortened affair. UWSP scored four runs in each of the first two innings to take control of the game. On the second day of games, UWSP split with St. Catherine and Gustavus Adolphus. UWSP won 1-0 against St. Catherine with a sacrifice fly from outfielder Paige Allen. Pitcher Miranda Morrison ensured the win with an eight-inning shutout. UWSP gave up five runs during the fourth inning to Gustavus Adolphus, causing the Pointers to fall 7-2. The Pointers will play their next ten games in Florida beginning March 12.
Marty Kauffman
Sports Editor
mkauf036@uwsp.edu
