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Pointers Fall to
Falcons in NCHA Semifinals
The final outcome was the same, but that was about the only
similarity between the past two men�s hockey meetings between UW-Stevens
Point and UW-River Falls.
The Falcons knocked the Pointers from the Northern Collegiate Hockey
Association playoffs on Friday with a 4-1 semifinal victory at the
Cornerstone Community Center in Green Bay, but it was a much different game
than the Falcons� 8-1 win over the Pointers less than three weeks ago.
UW-Stevens Point trailed just 1-0 entering the third period and
missed several great chances to hold a lead through the first two periods.
The Pointers also held a 34-31 advantage in shots, but the Falcons, ranked
fifth in the NCAA Division III, got a pair of third period goals and an
empty net score to advance to the finals for the first time since 2001.
On Feb. 14, the Falcons outshot the Pointers 41-16 in cruising to the
8-1 victory, but a rejuvenated Pointers� squad in the postseason gave
UW-River Falls all it could handle in the playoff meeting after also beating
the Falcons 5-3 in December.
�We could have packed it in about three or four weeks ago,�
UW-Stevens Point coach Joe Baldarotta said. �But our guys didn�t give
up. We got to one of our goals getting to the (NCHA) final four and anything
can happen in a tournament situation.�
UW-Stevens Point goalie Ryan Scott made 22 saves through the first
two periods, but it was UW-River Falls goalie Andy Scanlon that made some of
the biggest stops during that stretch, squelching a pair of Pointer
two-on-one breakaways.
�The turning point in the game was when we didn�t score on those
two two-on-ones in the second period,� Baldarotta said. �We still felt
good after two periods, though, and felt if we got the next goal it would be
our game.�
UW-River Falls scored the game�s first goal at the 8:25 mark of the
second period when Steve Moe converted a rebound. The Falcons went up 2-0 at
the 3:48 mark of the third period on a goal by Jim Murphy. Jared Sailer
scored two minutes later for a 3-0 advantage.
UW-Stevens Point had constant pressure in the final period,
outshooting the Falcons 16-8 in the frame. Brett Coburn buried a loose puck
in front of the net for the Pointers� only goal with 5:34 left. The
Pointers had several other chances in the final minutes, but were unable to
score and the Falcons put the game away on an empty-netter by Aaron Venasky.
�We had three or four scrambles in front of the net that we just
couldn�t get control of the puck,� Baldarotta said. �Our guys worked
hard. We didn�t want it to end today.�
UW-Stevens Point ends the year at 13-12-3 for its eighth consecutive
winning season. UW-River Falls is 20-4-4 and will play St. Norbert or Lake
Forest in the championship game for a berth in the NCAA tournament.
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