Cross Country: The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's team defeated UW-Oshkosh 17-44 in a dual meet Friday, Oct. 19, at Iverson Park, while the Pointer women's team fell three points short of the Titans in a 27-30 loss. The meet was a tune-up for the WIAC Championships in Eau Claire Saturday, Oct. 27.
Steve Tingum (Alexander, MN) won the men's meet for the Pointers with a time of 27:08. Steve Gillespie (Ripon) was second and Cameron Cummings (Wild Rose) was third with identical times of 27:13. Andy Bednarek (Stoughton) was fourth in 27:22 to give the Pointers a sweep of the top four spots.
Bridget O'Malley (Hartland) finished fourth to lead the Pointer women's team with a time of 21:37.
Football (4-2 overall, 2-2 WIAC): For the second straight year, UW-SP lost to UW-Oshkosh by a 38-31 score, marking the first time the Pointers have lost in back-to-back years to the Titans since 1976.
However, the Pointers are still in good shape in the WIAC title chase. UW-SP could still clinch at least a share of the title with wins in its last three games, since UW-Eau Claire is alone in first place at 3-1 and six teams have 2-2 records. UW-Whitewater is the league's only 1-3 team.
UW-SP amassed 427 total yards of total offense as quarterback Scott Krause (Waunakee) threw for 226 yards and rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Jason VanderVelden (Winneconne) rushed for 92 yards for the Pointers.
UW-SP trailed for much of the game before Ricardo Vega (Palm Springs, CA) tied the game at 24-24 late in the third quarter on a 42-yard field goal. The Pointers then surrendered two fourth quarter touchdown passes in the loss.
This week, the Pointers host defending WIAC champion UW-Stout at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Goerke Field.
Men's Hockey: The Pointers open their season with a two-game series against East Region foe Elmira (N.Y.), Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27. Both games are at 7:30 p.m. at Willett Arena. The Soaring Eagles are making their first-ever trip to Stevens Point. The Pointers won games at Elmira last season and in the 1993 national semifinals.
UW-SP will have 15 freshmen on the roster. The Pointers were 17-12 last season and are picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll of NCHA coaches.
Soccer (14-1 overall, 8-0 WIAC): The Pointers enter this week's WIAC tournament on a roll, having won five straight matches and 15 straight at home. UW-SP, ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III rankings, beat UW-Stout 4-1, St. Norbert 6-0 and 21st ranked Macalester 2-0.
Molly Cady (Cottage Grove) had a big week for the Pointers, scoring goals in each game, including the first two scores against St. Norbert. She also assisted on a goal against Macalester. Kelly Fink (West Bend) also scored goals in each game, including the first two goals against UW-Stout. Fink now has 19 goals for the season and has scored in 13 of the team's 15 matches.
The Pointers opened the tournament Tuesday, Oct. 23, against UW-Platteville with a 6-0, victory. Fink continued her scoring streak with two goals in the game. Jenny Bruce also had a pair of goals and added three assists.
The Pointers host the WIAC semifinals and finals Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27. Friday's game is at 11 a.m. and the championship game is Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches are at the Pointer Soccer Bowl.
The tournament winner receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament. All the Pointer games can be heard on WWSP 89.9 FM.
Swimming: The Pointers opened their seasons last week against Division II competition in South Dakota as the UW-SP women defeated South Dakota 141-90 and lost to Nebraska-Omaha 144-87. The Pointer men lost to South Dakota 144-94.
Christine Sammons (Hastings, MN) led the women's team by setting a pool record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:51.61. She also placed second in the 200 medley and was part of the winning 200 medley relay team with Alissa Bartz (Beloit), Lindsay Correll (Aurora) and Jen Randall (Wisconsin Rapids).
The men's team had solid performances in the 100 freestyle as Erik Johnson (Albert Lea, MN) won the race in 54.19 seconds. The 400 freestyle relay team of Johnson, Aaorn Marshall (Cambridge, MN), Anthony Harris (St. Paul, MN) and Eric Sands (South St. Paul, MN) picked up the win in 3:38.24.
UW-SP opens defense of its back-to-back WIAC men's and women's titles Saturday, Oct. 27, with a 1 p.m. dual meet at UW-Oshkosh.
Tennis (4-6 overall, 1-5 WIAC): UW-SP wrapped up its season by finishing sixth at the WIAC championships in Madison. The Pointers also placed sixth in the final WIAC standings, which combine the tournament and the regular season dual matches.
Amber Wilkowski (Milwaukee) and Rachel Ferge (Marshfield) posted the biggest win for the Pointers, beating the fourth-seeded team from UW-La Crosse in the first round and finishing fourth at No. 2 doubles.
In singles, Gina Lamer (Green Bay) won the consolation crown at No. 4 singles by posting a pair of straight-set victories in the consolation bracket.
Volleyball (6-15 overall, 1-6 WIAC): UW-SP was scheduled to complete its regular season this week with a conference match Wednesday, Oct. 24, at UW-La Crosse and four matches over the weekend at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational. The Pointers are scheduled to play Marian at 6 p.m. and Finlandia (Mich.) at 8 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 26 and UW-Oshkosh at noon and Ripon at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.
The Pointers had only one match last week, falling to UW-Platteville 30-23, 30-17, 30-28. Jessica Parker (Milwaukee) led the Pointers with nine kills, while Mary Schultz (Fish Creek) added eight kills and 11 digs.
UW-SP will be the eighth seed for the upcoming WIAC tournament. The Pointers will play at the top seed in the quarterfinals on Oct. 30. UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater meet Wednesday to determine the league's first place team and the Pointers' opening opponent.