JANESVILLE, WI – In a high-energy matchup at the Woodman's Sports & Convention Center this evening, the Beloit College Buccaneers displayed a resilient offensive spark and exceptional goaltending, ultimately falling 6-3 to UW.-Stevens Point. Despite the final score, the Buccaneers controlled long stretches of the game and gave the Pointers everything they could handle in front of a dedicated crowd in Janesville.
The Buccaneers (4-18-1, 1-12-0 WIAC) wasted no time making their presence felt. After a defensive battle dominated the first half of the opening period, Beloit struck first at the 14:33 mark. Ben Stewart (Dayton, OH) found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Andronique Stepanian (Reynoldsburg, OH), to give the Buccaneers a 1-0 lead.
Beloit's defense, anchored by a stellar performance from goaltender Andrew Yocum (St. Louis, MO), withstood a 17-shot barrage from the Pointers (11-10-2, 6-6-1 WIAC) in the first period to carry the shutout lead into the first intermission.
While Stevens Point managed to tie the game early in the second period, the Buccaneers responded with a lightning-fast offensive surge that completely shifted the momentum in their favor.
At 05:48 of the second, Stewart struck again, netting his second goal of the night to reclaim a 2-1 lead. Less than a minute later, at 06:25, Landon Adams (St. Paul, MN) extended the cushion to 3-1 with an unassisted tally. For a significant portion of the second frame, the Buccaneers had the Pointers on their heels, capitalizing on transitions and maintaining a clinical presence in the offensive zone.
A major highlight for the Buccaneers was the Herculean effort of Yocum between the pipes. Facing a relentless attack from a UWSP team that fired 51 shots on goal, Yocum turned away 45 of them. His 21-save performance in the second period alone kept Beloit in a position to win when the Pointers' offense began to find its rhythm.
On the circles, the Buccaneers also found success. Joe Weber (Rochester, NY) was dominant at the dot, winning 10 of 14 faceoffs (71.4%), while Zach Hutchinson (West Salem, WI) contributed an impressive 66.7% win rate, ensuring Beloit had opportunities to control the puck.
The Pointers eventually managed to claw back, scoring three unanswered goals late in the second period to take a 4-3 lead. Despite a desperate push by Beloit in the third, Stevens Point added a late goal and a final empty-netter to seal the 6-3 victory.
The Buccaneers close out the 2025-26 season next weekend when they host UW-River Falls. Game time for both Friday and Saturday is set for 7 pm.
