STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey came close, but fell short against conference rival UW-Stevens Point 4-2 tonight at K.B. Willett Arena.

The first period yielded only one goal, short-handed, by the opposing team as Stevens Point (5-8-0, 2-7-0 NCHA) was the first to go on the scoreboard at 15:19.

The second period saw the most action offensively as Stevens Point scored at 2:19 to give the home team the 2-0 lead. However, the Blugolds' Jordan Singer (Fr.-Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) gave Eau Claire their first even strength goal of the night at 3:36 with the assist from Joe Freund (Fr.-Ayr, Ontario/Southwood) to bring the Blugolds back within one. The Pointers responded less than a minute later at 4:10 with their own even strength goal to give them yet another two-goal lead. The Pointers scored the last goal of the second period at 16:59 to make the score 4-1.

The Blugolds began a comeback in the third period as Isaiah Bennis (Fr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) scored at 5:33 with the assist from Singer to bring the Blugolds within two, but couldn't convert anymore as the Pointers took away the 4-2 win.

Stevens Point outshot Eau Claire on the night, 24-19, but also committed eight penalties to the Blugolds' seven. Eau Claire had more power-play attempts than Stevens Point, 6-5, but neither team could convert on the chances.

The Pointers' Thomas Speer picked up the win in-goal after playing for 60 minutes and picking up 17 saves. Eau Claire's Brandon Stephenson (Fr.-Saline, Mich.) received the loss after defending the Blugold net for 24:10 and picked up five saves. Tyler Brigl (Sr.-Eagan, Minn./Eastview) stepped in later in the game to play for 35:19 and recorded 15 saves.

The Blugolds (3-6-3, 1-3-3 NCHA) will get a chance at redemption tomorrow night as they take the ice again in Stevens Point. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m.