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WHEATON, Ill. � Words can hardly even describe the emotional
roller coaster the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women�s soccer
team has experienced the past three days.
After a traumatic bus accident on Thursday while traveling to the
NCAA Division III Central Regional, the Pointers bounced back with two
major victories over top 10 teams to advance to the �Elite Eight� of
the national tournament for the first time ever.
Saturday, the Pointers eliminated Wheaton College on its home field
1-0 to advance to face Villa Julie (Md.) or Salisbury State (Md.) next
weekend at a site to be determined. UW-Stevens Point is now 21-4 overall
and has won 15 straight matches.
�This has been an incredible weekend in so many ways,�
Pointers� coach Sheila Miech said. �I just don�t know how else to
describe it except that something spiritual is going on here.�
The Pointers� first incident was a bus accident on Thursday�s
trip to Illinois. A tow truck slammed into the bus as it was curving onto
an on ramp, causing it to crash into the guard rail and sending glass
throughout the vehicle. Nobody was injured, and over the next two days,
the incident seemed to inspire the Pointers in wins over Macalester, which
played in the national title match the past two years, and Wheaton, which
was ranked fourth in the latest national poll.
�I can�t say enough about the determination and the inspiration
of our players,� Miech said. �For them to overcome everything we�ve
gone through says a lot about their character.�
Saturday night, the Pointers were outshot 20-8, but most of
Wheaton�s shots were from long range and those that weren�t were
easily corralled by goalie Abby Rabinovitz, who finished with six saves.
The Thunder was in control for most of the first half, but the
Pointers came to life about 20 minutes into the frame and Molly Cady
scored on a 20-yard turnaround for the game�s only score with 9:51 left
in the first half. Andrea Oswald assisted on the goal.
Wheaton�s best scoring chance came midway through the second half
when All-American forward Rebecca Mouw received a cross in front of the
net, but like everything else on the Pointers� weekend, the ball took a
fortuitous bounce off the post and directly into Rabinovitz�s hands.
The Pointers were able to stifle the Thunder as Margaret Domka
blanketed Mouw the entire night. The victory avenged a 3-2 loss to Wheaton
earlier this season and ended a six-game losing streak against the
Thunder.
�I knew after we played Macalester and Wheaton earlier this year
that we could play with them,� Miech said. �Our players just came
focused and ready to play this weekend.�
The Pointers will play in the National Quarterfinals against
Salisbury State University (20-0-2) in Salisbury, MD next weekend. The day
of the game and time will be determined on Monday.
Score
by Halves
1 2
F
UW-Stevens Point
1
0
1
Wheaton College
0
0
0
SP
� Molly Cady (Andrea Oswald), 35:09
Shots on Goal � Wheaton 20, UW-Stevens Point 8
Saves � Stevens Point 6, Wheaton 3
Fouls � Stevens Point 14, Wheaton 8
Corner Kicks � Wheaton 5, Stevens Point 2
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