WINONA, Minn.— The No. 5/6 UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team used a first period scoring barrage to power past Saint Mary's, 7-2, on Friday night at Saint Mary's Ice Arena
 
After building momentum off the first power play of the night, Wesley Ashley (Pittsburgh, PA) scored his first goal in a Pointers sweater to put UWSP (4-1-0) in the driver's seat early in the game.
 
Just 1:19 later, Luke McElhenie (Sauk City, WI) tallied his fourth goal of the season off assists by Logan Fredericks (Millstone Township, NJ/) and Drew McLean (Waterford, MI/) to give the Pointers a 2-0 lead over Saint Mary's (2-2-1).
 
McElhenie returned the favor setting up Tanner Karty (Oklahoma City, OK/) for his first goal of the game at the 7:39 mark of the first period, capping the Pointers' scoring spree.
 
UWSP's three goals in a 2:24 span gave the Pointers a 3-0 lead entering the first intermission.
 
In the second period, Karty found the back of the net for the second time at the 5:10 mark, keeping the red-hot UWSP offense rolling.
 
Midway through the middle frame, sophomore defenseman Drew McLean (Waterford, MI/) tallied an insurance goal to extend the UWSP lead to five.
 
Saint Mary's Dylan Robertson scored to take one back for the Cardinals, before Steven Quagliata (Bartlett, IL) answered back for the Pointers less than a minute later to put UWSP up 6-1 heading into the final period.
 
Midway through the third period, Austin Kelly (Toledo, OH/) completed the UWSP scoring, tallying his first goal of the season, unassisted.
 
SMU's Kyle Meeh scored at the 16:44 mark of the third period to make it a 7-2 game.
 
Senior goaltender Max Milosek (Lapeer, MI/) made 20 saves in the victory.
 
UWSP returns to action tomorrow (Nov. 11) taking on St. Thomas at 7:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights, Minn.