Issued: February 7, 2004

WOMEN'S HOCKEY PERFORMS MIRACLE, BLANKS STEVENS POINT

EAU CLAIRE - Coming off its worst loss of the season, a 9-0 blowout by sixth-ranked UW-Stevens Point, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team rebounded in style, topping the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association leading Pointers 2-0 for the first time in school history here tonight at Hobbs Ice Arena.

The Blugolds had lost 16 games in a row to the Pointers since Eau Claire's inception into the league. Eau Claire moves to 8-11-2 for the season and 3-9-0 in NCHA play while Stevens Point falls to 14-5-4 overall and 9-3-1 in conference action. The shut out is the Blugolds' third of the season while the Pointers fail to score for the first time since January 11, 2003, when they dropped an identical 2-0 decision to UW-River Falls.

Neither team was able to get much going in the first two periods of play with Eau Claire goalie Sara Steinhoff (So.-West St. Paul, MN/Henry Sibley) and Stevens Point's Crystal Randall matching up in a duel for the ages. The Pointers held a firm shot advantage through the first two periods, hitting Steinhoff with 20 shots while the Blugolds aimed 10 on net at Randall. Both goalies held their ground and after 40 minutes of hockey the score remained at zeros.

Eau Claire broke the scoreless tie just 12 seconds into the third period when Laura Suppes (Fr.-Falcon Heights, MN) took a pass from Karen Hebert (Fr.-Lakeville, MN/Academy of the Holy Angels) and snuck it past Randall for the eventual game-winning goal.

The Pointers had an excellent scoring chance with just one minute remaining in the contest and with a six-on-five advantage due to an empty net but Steinhoff made a great diving save to keep the Blugold lead in check. The puck bounced in front of the net off of Steinhoff where Allison Timberg (Fr.-Minnetonka, MN) sent it nearly the entire length of the ice, just sneaking it inside the post for an empty-net goal. Eau Claire held on the final 56 seconds for the 2-0 victory.

Steinhoff stopped all 24 shots she faced for the win while Randall made 13 saves, allowing just one goal with the other Eau Claire tally coming with an empty net.

The Blugolds will look to carry momentum from the win into Superior next weekend when they face off with the Yellowjackets on Friday at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday at 2:05 p.m.

Eau Claire 2, Stevens Point 0

Scoring

3P: EC-Laura Suppes (Karen Hebert), 19:48gw; EC-Allison Timberg (unassisted), 0:56en.

Shots: EC 5-5-6-16, SP 11-9-4-24
Saves: EC 11-9-4-24, SP 5-5-4-14
Power Plays: EC 0 for 2, SP 0 for 2
Penalties: EC 3 for 6, SP 3 for 6
Records: EC 8-11-2 (3-9-0), SP 14-5-4 (9-3-1)