ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senior Andrew Poulias (Whitby, Ont.) recorded his first career hat trick as the No. 8 UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team (10-3-0) earned a 5-1 win at Hamline (4-8-0) to begin 2024.
 
Poulias opened the scoring at the 10:50 mark of the first period. Fletcher Anderson (Thunder Bay, Ont./Sir William Churchill) and Nicholas Aromatario (Woodbridge, Ont.) picked up assists on UWSP's first goal of the calendar year.
 
The Pipers tied the game at 12:31 of the first, the only goal allowed by UWSP goaltender Alex Proctor (Allen, Texas).
 
In the final minute of the period, Poulias netted his second of the night, the eventual game winner. Noah Finstrom (New Baltimore, Mich.) and Mick Heneghan (Niles, Ill.) assisted on the power-play tally.
 
With just 1.3 seconds remaining in the first period, the Pointers' power play struck again. Anderson scored the goal with Heneghan and Conor Witherspoon (Metamora, Mich.) adding helpers.
 
Poulias completed his hat trick at 15:38 of the second period to put UWSP ahead 4-1. Finstrom notched with second assist of the night.
 
Brett Humberstone (Kingston, Ont.) added a goal at the 18:59 mark of the second period to complete the scoring. Isaac Moberg (St. Paul, Minn.) had the assist on Humberstone's goal.
 
Proctor made 21 saves in the win, seven in each period. Hamline goaltender Trevor Wong had 34 saves.
 
The Pointers wrap up the weekend in Minnesota with a 7:00 p.m. game at Augsburg on Saturday (Jan. 6).