UW-Stevens Point lost a close 2-1 decision to Middlebury in the NCAA Div. III Championship game played Saturday night in Middlebury, Vt.

All of the scoring came in the first period. UWSP grabbed a 1-0 lead at 2:36 when Ashley Howe scored her seventh goal of the year with assists to Jackie Schmitt and Tracy Truckey. MC tied the game at 4:33 when Jean Butler scored with an assist o Emily McNamara. MC's Liz Yale-Loehr got what proved to be the game winner at 15:32 with an assist to Jean Butler.

UWSP goalie Amy Statz made 32 saves and finished the year with a 13-5-4 record. MC's Kate Kogut stopped 14 shots.

UWSP was called for three minor penalties. Middlebury, which finished its season 24-4, did not have a penalty.

UWSP, which won the NCHA playoff title earlier this year, ends its season 19-7-4. The Pointers are the first NCHA team to reach the NCAA title game.