Pointers will try to end football drought at UW-La Crosse By DON FRIDAY Special to The Gazette UW-Stevens Point football coach John Miech felt prior to the season that a critical three-game stretch against traditional Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference powers would determine the Pointers' fate, both with respect to the league race and a possible berth in the NCAA Division 3 playoffs. With impressive back-to-back victories over UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater already in the books, the unbeaten (4-0 WIAC, 6-0 overall) Pointers will try to complete the "hat trick" Saturday afternoon. The third leg of the journey, however, may present the most formidable challenge. UW-SP invades Veteran's Memorial Stadium at UW-La Crosse to take on the Eagles, who for many years had a dynasty going under 31st year coach Roger Harring. Harring is 257-74-7 overall and 25-2-3 against UW-SP. The kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (WIZD, 99.9-FM). Although they haven't figured in the WIAC title picture in recent years, the Eagles are still very much in contention this season. After an 0-2 start, La Crosse has bounced back and enters Saturday's showdown 3-1 in the WIAC and 3-3 overall. UW-L routed Stout last week, 42-14. A win would assure the Pointers of no worse than a share of the WIAC crown and a berth in the playoffs. UW-SP would own a two-game lead in the conference race with only two games remaining, at Platteville Oct. 30 and at home against Eau Claire on Nov. 6. Although the Pointers whipped La Crosse last season, the Eagles have long been a nemesis to UW-SP. La Crosse leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1913, 34-8-4. The Pointers' last win at La Crosse took place in 1987, although that win, along with all others that national co-championship season, later was forfeited when it was discovered UW-SP had used two ineligible players. The Pointers' last win that counted at La Crosse (13-7) took place in 1962. The Pointers, who retained their No. 9 national ranking this week, certainly don't lack for incentive. In addition to the championship-playoff berth implications, UW-SP can tie the school record of 12 consecutive wins. The Pointers can also become the first Division 3 school to clinch an automatic playoff berth with a win, provided that Platteville (2-2) loses at Stout (1-3). A steady performance by redshirt freshman quarterback Dave Berghuis, who made his first collegiate start, and strong efforts by the offensive line and defensive unit keyed the 23-7 victory over Whitewater here last Saturday. Berghuis completed 18 of 28 passing attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown with just one interception. His 60-yard bomb with 5:09 remaining to former Kimberly High School teammate Chad Valentyne clinched the victory. Wally Schmitt led the ground game with 108 tough yards in 28 carries while freshman wideout Valentyne had six catches for 116 yards. The UW-SP defense, meanwhile, limited a Whitewater team which was coming off a 53-20 win over Oshkosh to 240 yards and just 8 completions in 24 passing attempts. Earning player of the week honors for the Pointers were center Jason Wagner, a sophomore from Lancaster, on offense; linebacker Paul Schmitt, a sophomore from Stratford who is Wally's twin brother, on defense; and Tim Rabas, a sophomore from Denmark, on specialty teams. Men's Cross Country The Pointers finished third in a star-studded, 33-team field at the annual Jim Drews Invitational last Saturday at the Maple Grove Country Club in West Salem, just outside of La Crosse. The impressive finish vaulted UW-SP to the No. 4 spot in this week's NCAA Division 3 national poll, tied with Keene (N.H.) State. NCAA Division I UW-Madison, which placed its top five runners among the first eight finishers, ran away with the meet with a 21-point total. Host UW-La Crosse, ranked No. 2 in Division 3, edged the Pointers for runner-up honors, 112-121. The University of Minnesota placed fourth while UW-Whitewater, which was No. 3 in the national poll last week, came in seventh. Junior Jesse Drake led UW-SP over the 8K course with a sixth place clocking of 25:12.7. Badgers' senior Matt Downin placed first in 24:04.2. Rounding out the top five finishers for the Pointers were senior Ryan Wenos, 17th in 25:36.1; senior Shane Suehring, 24th in 25:46.5; senior Mike Peck, 31st in 25:56.5; and junior Nathan Mechlin, 43rd in 26:13.7. Junior Andrew Bushard was 50th in 26:16.4 and sophomore Jesse LaLonde 59th in 26:26.7. Wenos, a Rhinelander native, was named Pointer runner of the week. The Pointers, who moved up three spots in the national poll, host 10th ranked UW-Oshkosh in a 5 p.m. dual meet on Friday at the Wisconsin River Country Club. Women's Cross Country A strong seventh place showing at the annual Tori Neubauer Invitational in West Salem last Saturday has resulted in a return to the top 25 national rankings for the Pointers. UW-SP is ranked No. 22 in the poll after posting the second highest finish among WIAC entries in the 5K event hosted by UW-La Crosse. The Eagles, led by individual champion Jenny Fiedler (18:00.3) won the meet with an 87 point total. St. Thomas (Minn.) was second with 154 and Concordia (Neb.) third with 192. The Pointers checked in with a 220 total. Senior Leah Juno led UW-SP with a third place finish in 18:16.9. Rounding out the top five for the Pointers were sophomore Becky Lebak, 13th in 18:39.4; senior Lisa Pisca, 45th in 19:26.4; senior Alyssa Garbe, 75th in 19:46.9; and senior Jenny Krenz, 84th in 19:52.0. Junior Erin Dowgwillo was 90th in 19:56.2 and junior Maggie Dennewitz 123rd in 20:21.2. Pisca, a senior from Schofield (D.C. Everest) was named Pointer runner of the week. Soccer A pair of dominating victories last week has elevated the Pointers to the No. 19 spot in the NCAA Division 3 poll. The Pointers, 24th last week, held Lake Michigan Conference leader Edgewood College of Madison to two shots on goal in a 6-0 win Saturday, then came back Sunday to overwhelm UW-Superior in a conference outing, 13-0, holding the Yellowjackets without a shot on goal in the process. The Pointers, who peppered the UW-S goalie with 55 shots, are now 7-0 in the WIAC and 13-2 overall. UW-SP, which is also ranked No. 3 in the Central Region, faces a major challenge Saturday at Wheaton (Ill.) which is ranked sixth in the region. Michelle Jacob, a sophomore midfielder from Neenah, was named WIAC defensive player of the week after sparking a unit which stifled Edgewood and Superior. The shutout wins were the third and fourth in a row for UW-SP which has outscored its WIAC opposition, 43-1. Earning Pointer offensive player of the week honors was another Neenah product, senior forward Heather Camps who has a goal against Edgewood and two assists and several crisp passes in the rout of Superior. Volleyball The Pointers dropped to 1-5 in the WIAC and 10-15 overall after losing a league outing against UW-Stout, 10-15, 8-15, 8-15. Courtney Herremann led the Pointers with eight kills while Erin Carney had 20 assists and Chrissy Klipstine nine digs.