RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team (4-2-1, 0-0-1) needed a pair of goals from senior Austin Kelly (Toledo, Ohio/) in the final minute of regulation to earn a 5-5 tie with UW-River Falls (4-1-2, 0-0-1) in the league opener on Friday.
 
After a scoreless first period, Zach Zech (South Lyon, Mich./) gave the Pointers a 1-0 lead just 1:34 into the second period.  Logan Fredericks (Millstone Township, N.J./) assisted on the ice breaker.
 
Freshman Jake Theis (Chanhassen, Minn./) netted his second goal of the year at 4:55 with Luke McElhenie (Sauk City, Wis./) on the assist.  A minute later, UWRF cut the lead in half.
 
Later in the second, McElhenie scored a power-play goal to put the lead back at two goals.  Drew McLean (Waterford, Mich./) and Colin Raver (Bartlett, Ill./) had helpers on the tally.
 
The Falcons would seize the momentum from there.  Two goals in the final 2:06 of the period sent the game to the third period tied at 3-3.  In the third period, UWRF added an early goal and a second just past the midpoint of the period to put UWSP behind 5-3.
 
With exactly 1:00 to play in regulation, Kelly got his first of the game.  Kelly O'Brien (Detroit, Mich./) and Brennen Miller (Keller, Texas/) assisted as the Pointers got to within a goal.
 
On the ensuing faceoff, the Pointers rushed into the zone and Kelly put home the equalizer just 15 second after his first to tie the game at 5-5.  McElhenie had his third point of the night with an assist.
 
Eli Billing (Windsor, Ont./) made 17 saves for the Pointers.  UWRF goaltender Kade Phipps had 24 saves.
 
UWSP closes out the road trip on Saturday (Nov. 23) with another conference tilt at UW-Superior.  Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m.