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Dominating Line Guides Pointers to
Win Over Eau Claire
by Scott Williams
Stevens Point Journal
Original Article
Box
Score
University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point freshman goalie Bryn Davies needed a pick-me-up after
the first period Friday night.
The "Legion of Doom" came to the rescue.
A mammoth line comprised of 6-foot-3 Brent Halverson, Adam Kostichka (6-4) and
Nick Zebro (6-2) was too much to handle for UW-Eau Claire.
Halverson and Kostichka each scored a pair of goals and the Pointers rolled to a
7-3 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association win at K.B. Willett Arena.
UWSP extended its modest unbeaten streak to three games while raising its record
to 6-3-2, including 2-0-1 in the NCHA.
"We never get down on the goalie," Halverson said. "We came in here (the locker
room) and told him (Davies) that we'll get it done."
Davies got off to a tough start as a couple soft shots from the point eluded him
and enabled the Blugolds to grab a 2-1 lead after one period.
Eau Claire's Sean Clark and Matt Finley sandwiched goals around one by
Halverson.
Not exactly the kind of start the Pointers were looking for against a foe that
was missing eight players with injuries.
"We were not doing the little things well," UWSP coach Joe Baldarotta said. "We
didn't block a single puck that period. We just needed to settle everybody
down."
There is no need to worry with the self-described "Legion of Doom" on the job.
Kostichka started a string of six unanswered goals by the Pointers when he
deflected a point shot by Jordan Blair past Blugolds goalie Steffan Braunlich.
The Pointers' fun continued 37 seconds later when Anthony Forgione picked up a
goal to give UWSP the lead for good. Later in the period Nick Molski and
Kostichka scored in a span of 24 seconds to put Eau Claire in a 5-2 hole.
The line of Halverson, Zebro and Kostichka spelled doom for the Blugolds as they
accounted for four goals, five assists and the end of an early night for
Braunlich.
"I just try to use my power and put the puck on net. It's not pretty," Halverson
said. "We're scoring goals is the bottom line. Last year we were snakebitten.
Now pucks are going in for us."
UWSP has scored 19 goals during its three-game winning streak.
Emotions were running high in the third period as the Pointers built a 7-2
margin on goals by Halverson and Jordan Blair.
The penalty-marred final period - the teams combined for 21 penalties and 50
minutes - culminated with a goal by the Blugolds' Rob Ouimette.
"We didn't want to take all those penalties. This is the only six-period game we
play all season. They got some momentum with that late goal," said Baldarotta.
The same teams will play in Eau Claire tonight.
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