Host Middlebury skated past Wisconsin-Stevens Point by a slender 2-1 margin March 20 to win the Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship.

In a largely defensive effort by both squads, all the scoring took place in the first period. Wisconsin-Stevens Point struck first when Ashley Howe buried a shot off an assist from Jackie Schmitt at the 2:36 mark, but Middlebury knotted the score just under two minutes later on a goal by team captain Jean Butler with an assist from Emily McNamara.

The third and final score of the game came at 15:32 of the first period when Middlebury's Liz Yale-Loehr rifled home a rebound of a Butler shot.

Though the second and third periods were scoreless, both teams had scoring opportuities. Wisconsin-Stevens Point goaltender Amy Statz turned away 32 shots and Kate Kogut, the netminder for Middlebury, finished with 14 saves on the day.

"After the first period we kept the pressure on, but their goaltender was outstanding," Middlebury head coach Bill Mandigo said. "Wisconsin-Stevens Point is a very disciplined and well-coached team."

Brian Idalski, head coach at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, said he was proud of his team's effort.

"They played hard and to the best of their abilities," he said. "Middlebury plays a system we're not used to, but we left it all out on the ice."

Middlebury, which finished the season 24-4-0, downed Plattsburgh State, 2-1, in the semifinals to advance to the championship game. Wisconsin-Stevens Point defeated Manhattanville, 4-1, to earn a berth in the final. The Pointers finished the season 19-7-4.

In the third place-game, Plattsburgh State scored three unanswered goals in the third period to overtake Manhattanville, 4-2.

Semifinals

Middlebury 2, Plattsburgh St. 1

First period: No scoring.

Penalties: PS -- Chantalle Rye (hooking), 2:31; PS -- Lisa Bettencourt (tripping), 11:34; M -- Abby Kurtz-Phelan (elbowing), 19:09.

Second period: M -- Kurtz-Phelan (Lorna Gifis, Shannon Tarrant), 8:04.

Penalties: PS -- Katie D'Arcy (roughing), 5:24; Bettencourt (body checking), 7:59; PS -- Kelley Moore (body checking), 15:24; PS -- D'Arcy (interference), 18:51; M -- Gloria Velez (obstruction interference), 18:51.

Third period: PS -- Gifis (Emily McNamara), 10:38; PS -- Jenn Clarke, 15:13.

Penalties: PS -- Erin O'Brien (elbowing), 5:02; M -- Shannon Sylvester (hooking), 11:44.

Saves: Carolyne Roy (Plattsburgh St.), 17; Kate Kogut (Middlebury), 27.

Wis.-Stevens Point 4, Manhattanville 1

First period: No scoring.

Penalties: WSP -- Chris Hanson (obstruction interference), 11:34; M -- Ashley Trimble (body checking), 15:13; Trimble (obstruction holding), 18:49.

Second period: WSP -- Kim Lunneborg (Liz Goergen, Jana Jurkovich), 14:26; W -- Hilary Bulger (Hanson), 19:46.

Penalties: WSP -- Jennifer Norris (holding), 14:48; M -- Jessica Temesy (cross checking), 17:50.

Third period: WSP -- Ann Ninnemann, 2:39; WSP -- Lunneborg (Ninnemann), 17:59; M -- Nicole Stephens (Melissa Hawkins, Trimble), 16:18.

Penalties: WSP -- Hanson (tripping), 12:47; M -- Trimble (hooking), 10:01; Trimble (tripping), 13:31.

Saves: Amy Statz (Wis.-Stevens Point), 33; Nicole Elliott (Manhattanville), 22.

Championship game

Middlebury 2, Wis.-Stevens Point 1

First period: WSP -- Ashley Howe (Jackie Schmitt, Tracy Truckey), 2:36; M -- Jean Butler (Emily McNamara), 4:33; M -- Liz Yale-Loehr (Butler), 15:32.

Penalties: WSP -- Pam Stohr (obstruction interference), 5:23.

Second period: No scoring.

Penalties: WSP -- Howe (body checking), 13:16.

Third period: No scoring.

Penalties: WSP -- Howe (body checking), 10:10.

Saves: Amy Statz (Wis.-Stevens Point), 32; Kate Kogut (Middlebury), 14.

Shots on goal: Wis.-Stevens Point 15, Middlebury 34. Attendance: 635.