The Pointers have been impressive at home this season, with an undefeated record of 4-0-2 at K. B. Willett arena.

The Pointers still know that they can play better hockey and hope to be playing their best hockey as they finish the season.

“We definitely expect more out of us right now,” said junior forward Cassandra Salman. “We have lots of work to do in the next couple of weeks.”

Currently in fourth place in the National College Hockey Association, the Pointers could have an even better record if they could have finished some important games.

An example of this issue came this past weekend when Stevens Point played at Adrian College.

The Pointers were leading 2-0 at the half way point in the second period on Friday’s matchup against Adrian, but just couldn’t hold onto the lead.

“The main thing that we have to improve on is finishing games,” said head coach Ann Ninnemann. “We can’t let go of that lead when we have it.”

Even though some losses that have been hard to take, Allie Tanzer, a junior forward for the Pointers, says the team has learned to keep their heads up and play the next game.

“We have had our downfalls in games, but we have learned to not dwell on the past. We just look ahead to the future and take our mistakes to heart but not let them eat at us,” Tanzer said.

“We have had some tough losses, but we are learning from our mistakes, and I think it makes us stronger,” Salman said.

Besides its resiliency, Ninnemann says that the team has also excelled in having a great work ethic and positive team chemistry.

“We all get along really well. We all have the same goal in the end, and that is to walk away as conference champs,” Tanzer said.

The team has also really spread the puck around this season, resulting in many scoring threats. The Pointers have seven players with at least five goals and six players with six assists or more.

The team is led in goals by Tanzer and Salmen, who both have gotten ten past the goalie. Freshman forward Emily Lester leads the team with nine assists.

“This year we have had a lot more people that have been putting the puck in the back of the net and not just relying on that one person to get the job done,” Tanzer said.

As the regular season comes to an end, the team’s goals are simple.  

“Our team goal is to host playoffs,” said Hillary Drake, a sophomore goalie.

Coach Ninnemann believes that this team can accomplish that goal.  

“This is the best team we have had here in a long time,” Ninnemann said.

“When we play smart and don’t take unnecessary penalties, we can play with anyone,” Lester said.

It’s hard to dispute the view of Lester and Ninnemann, as this team has competed with some of the best teams in women’s Division III hockey. They have beaten current top ten team University of Wisconsin-River Falls and tied with Adrian College and Lake Forest, both also in the top ten.

The Pointers next game comes against Marion University, at home on February 5^th. The Pointers then face another top-ten foe when they host a Friday-Saturday series against University of Wisconsin-Superior on February 8^th and 9^th.