Sports
Pointers lose footing in Sweet 16
The Pointer
bhai870@uwsp.edu
The University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point women’s soccer season came to an abrupt halt on Nov. 22, as the Eastern University of Pennsylvania defeated the Pointers 1-0. The Pointers were knocked out in the Sweet 16 round of the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women’s Soccer Championship, ending their season at an impressive 19-4 overall and an undefeated Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record of 8-0.
The Eagles scored the only goal as Jill DiRenzo notched her twelfth goal of the season off a pass from Nicole Grindle and snuck the ball past Pointer keeper Pam Lucklow for the goal. For the remaining time it was a defensive game and neither team was able to capitalize on their offensive opportunities. Eastern stopped all five of the Pointer shots on goal to clench the Sweet 16 victory and advance to the Elite Eight.
Trying to win in the Sweet 16 while being one down almost all game is no walk in the park for the Pointers.
“It puts you in the hole; in your mind you’re trying to prevent another goal, but at the same time, you’re trying to score,” said Coach Sheila Miech.
Lucklow finished the game with three saves for the Pointers while Kaylee Weise, Amanda Prawat and Emily Walsh all tallied shots on goal that were stopped by Eastern University keeper Amana Draveler.
Eastern University went on to see its season end with a tough loss against Number two Messiah College the next day 2-0.
“We won some really big games by 1-0 too; we know what it’s like to be on the winning side,” said Miech.
The Pointers’ loss in the third round of the NCAA tournament cannot mask the success of their 2008 season. The UW-SP soccer team won their twelfth WIAC Championship defeating the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire, which earned the Pointers the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Pointers also shut out opponents completely in an undefeated 8-0 WIAC season, scoring 35 goals and letting none by. That definitely says something about the tough Pointers’ defense and senior goaltender Pam Lucklow.
In addition to the team’s success, senior forward Amanda Prawat became the all-time leading goal scorer in UW-SP history. She passed Marie Muhvic, who set the mark at 74 goals in 2000. Also, team members Mary Jean Cornelius, Amanda Prawat, Meghan VandenHeuvel, Emily Walsh, Katie Waterman and Kaylee Weise were named to the 2008 All-WIAC First Team, while Jenissa Koch was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.
Miech was chosen as the WIAC Coach of the Year in her twenty-second year as the Pointers’ head coach. Her career overall record is 319-102-27, which includes a 115-7-7 record in WIAC play.
Looking ahead to another season, Miech will have to replace 10 seniors. Top scorers Weise and Prawat and goalie Lucklow are included in that graduating class.
“Replacing 10 players isn’t easy, but I’m excited about the class coming up,” said Miech.
Congratulations on the great season and good luck next year Pointers.
