JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Beloit College women's hockey displayed remarkable resilience and a lethal power play unit this afternoon, battling back from multiple deficits before ultimately falling 5-3 to the visiting UW-Stevens Point Pointers at the Woodman's Sports & Convention Center.
Despite facing a Pointers team that holds an 8-3-0 (2-2-0 WIAC) record, the Buccaneers (1-10-0, 0-5-0 WIAC) refused to back down, forcing two major momentum shifts that kept the game within reach until the final minutes of the second period.
The game began with UW-Stevens Point controlling the tempo, establishing a 2-0 lead with goals from Amanda Pouchnik and Dani Weiland. However, Beloit generated a critical momentum shift in the final minute of the opening frame.
Capitalizing on a power-play opportunity, Madi Hoffman (Madison, Wis.) found the back of the net at the 19:08 mark, assisted by Kylie Schryer (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario). The late goal cut the deficit to 2-1 and sent the Buccaneers into the first intermission with renewed energy.
The Buccaneers carried that energy immediately into the second period. Just under four minutes in, the Buccaneers' special teams unit struck again. Kennedy Gruhlke (Eau Claire, Wis.) fired home a power-play goal at 3:41—assisted by Natalie Gurr (Okotoks, Alberta, Canada) and Fianne Makela (Duluth, MN)—to knot the game at 2-2.
The equalizer forced the Pointers to regroup. UWSP responded with a surge of their own, scoring two goals in a four-minute span to reclaim a 4-2 lead.
Facing a two-goal deficit for the second time in the game, the Buccaneers once again clawed their way back. At 14:53, Addison Gruhlke (Eau Claire, Wis.) scored an even-strength goal, set up by Makenzee Kostiuk (Thunder Bay, Ontario), pulling Beloit within one at 4-3.
However, the Pointers managed to stifle the rally late in the period, scoring at 17:27 to establish the final 5-3 margin.
The third period turned into a defensive battle, with neither team finding the net. Beloit goaltender Madison Bliss (Fort Frances, Ontario) kept her team in contention throughout the contest, recording 29 saves on 34 shots.
A major highlight for Beloit was their efficiency with the man advantage. The Buccaneers went 2-for-3 (66.7%) on the power play, punishing the Pointers for their indiscipline.
The Buccaneers are off for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year. They return to the ice on Saturday, January 2nd on the road in Dubuque, Iowa. Puck drop against the Spartans is set for 2 pm.
