STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The top-ranked UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team (4-0-1) edged out Saint Mary's (Minn.) in a 3-2 victory on Friday.
Sophomore Steven Quagliata (Bartlett, Ill.) scored his first goal of the season 21 seconds into a power-play in the first period off a pass from Tanner Karty (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Danny Kiraly (Glendale, Ariz.).
Fellow sophomore Carter Roo (Champlin, Minn.) doubled the Pointers' lead at 17:39 in the first period. Junior Luke McElhenie (Sauk City, Wis.) stole a misplayed puck by Saint Mary's goalie Nick Nast and passed it to Roo for a wide open net.
The Cardinals (0-4-1) cut the lead in half on a power-play goal from Tyson Liverance at the 5:37 mark of the second period.
Karty and Kiraly picked up their second assists of the night finding Drew McLean (Waterford, Mich.) for the eventual game-winner 3:29 into the third.
The two-goal cushion didn't last long as Saint Mary's Alex DiBacco answered 10 seconds later.
The Pointers held on for the 3-2 win as Saint Mary's pulled their goalie with 1:22 seconds remaining in the game for an extra attacker.
Connor Ryckman (Minesing, Ont.) improves to 4-0-0 on the season with 22 saves for the Pointers. Saint Mary's Nick Nast made 32 saves.
The Pointers play again Saturday (Nov. 10) at K.B. Willett Arena against St. Thomas. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
