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Pointers Tie Stout in Wild Shootout
by Scott Williams
Stevens Point Journal
Original Article
Box
Score
Welcome to life in the wacky
and wild world known as the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's hockey team got involved in a
wild shootout reminiscent of the Wild West on Friday night.
By the time the ice shavings settled special teams accounted for six goals as
the Pointers and UW-Stout skated to a 5-5 overtime tie in the NCHA opener for
both teams.
"I'm not happy with the tie. We'll take it, but that's not what we were looking
for," UWSP coach Joe Baldarotta said. "That was a wild game."
Stout nearly shot a hole in one of Baldarotta's time-tested theories - the first
team to four goals usually wins the game.
The Pointers had four goals on the scoreboard by the end of the opening period,
however, it wasn't enough.
Adam Kostichka needed to fire the last bullet as he unloaded a howitzer for his
second goal of the night, and team-leading fourth on the season, with 3:50
elapsed in the final period to knot the game at 5.
No surprise Kostichka's tying goal came while UWSP was on the power play. Six of
the 10 goals in the game were on special teams.
"The last couple games I've been feeling more comfortable and my teammates are
getting me the puck," said Kostichka, who scored a short-handed goal as well.
"Hockey is a streaky game with the hot and cold deal."
Who needs the O.K. Corral when Willett will serve the same purpose?
The teams combined to score seven goals in the opening 20 minutes, including
back-to-back short-handed goals by Ryan Kirchhoff, who finished with two, and
Kostichka to put UWSP on top 4-2 at the time.
No lead was safe on this night, however.
Stout came back to score three straight goals to grab a 5-4 lead after two
periods.
The first-period craziness concluded with a power-play goal off the stick of the
Blue Devils' BJ Garczynski with 1 second left.
It marked the fourth straight period UWSP has surrendered a goal in the final
minute - a trend Baldarotta insists needs to end.
"We committed a mortal sin again by giving up a goal in the last seconds. That
is a huge concern. It happens every game and it's killing us," the Pointer coach
said. "If I could put a finger on why, we wouldn't be doing it anymore."
Robby Olszewski and Mike Kautz each found the back of the net less than 4
minutes into the second period to help Stout (7-3-2) regain the lead.
After a sluggish start, Pointer goalie Bryn Davies settled down and blanked the
Blue Devils over the final 41:07 of the game.
At least Davies finished the game. Stout starter Jake Schuman was replaced by
Mike Stone after giving up the fourth goal to Stevens Point.
"He hurt his left shoulder and his left arm was numb," Stout coach Terry Watkins
said. "That was probably the sloppiest hockey game you'll see these two teams
play. Both goalies struggled."
Luke Schroeder opened the scoring for Stout 50 seconds into the game only to see
Mike Brolsma answer for the Pointers at 2:37.
The Blue Devils regained the lead on Andrew Stearns' goal before UWSP got on its
roll.
"I thought our guys showed a lot of heart and guts," said Baldarotta. "At least
we were able to manufacture a couple short-handed goals. You're not going to
lose too many games when you score two short-handed goals."
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