STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The No. 1-ranked UW-Stevens Point (28-0-2) defeated No. 7/8-ranked Hobart (21-8-2), 5-3, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament on Friday to advance to the National Championship game. The Pointers will face Norwich, who defeated SUNY Geneseo by a 4-2 score, in Saturday's title game at 7:00 p.m.
 
It took just 46 seconds for the Pointers to take a 1-0 lead.  Luke McElhenie (Sauk City, Wis.) deked a defender at the blue line and fired a shot past the keeper.  Ryan MacKellar (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Danny Kiraly (Glendale, Ariz.) picked up assists on the goal.
 
Midway through the first, the Statesmen got even at 1-1.  Hobart's Blake Coffey fired a shot that deflected in off a defender at the 10:14 mark.
 
Late in the first, the Pointers regained the lead.  At the 17:51 mark, Zach Zech (South Lyon, Mich.) put home a rebound off a shot from Ryan Bittner (Crookston, Minn.).  Tanner Karty (Oklahoma City, Okla.) also had an assist on the goal.
 
Midway through the second, UWSP added to its lead.  Colin Raver (Bartlett, Ill.) fired a wrister into the back of the net for a 3-1 lead at the 9:06 mark.  Karty and Kiraly each recorded their second assist of the night.
 
UWSP's lead evaporated as Hobart scored a pair of power-play goals in the span of 38 seconds to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Just 39 seconds later, Karty fired a wrister into the net to put the Pointers back in front.  His unassisted tally was the senior's third point of the night.
 
Austin Kelly (Toledo, Ohio) sealed the win for the Pointers with an unassisted empty-net goal with one minute remaining in regulation.
 
Connor Ryckman (Minesing, Ont.) made 23 saves for the Pointers and earned his program record 25th win of the season.  Hobart goaltender Alexander Connal made 30 saves in the loss.
 
UWSP's returns to the National Championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2016. They face No. 3/4-ranked Norwich, who defeated No. 2-ranked SUNY Geneseo, 4-2, in the first semifinal game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at K.B. Willett Arena.