WINONA, Minn. — It was a high-scoring game between the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team and visiting UW-Stevens Point — with the two teams combining for a whopping nine goals.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, eight of those nine goals were scored by the Pointers, as UW-Stevens Point dealt Saint Mary's an 8-1 nonconference setback Friday afternoon at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
After a scoreless first period, the Pointers turned on the offensive heat — way up.
Cody Moline and Noah Finstrom each scored within the first four minutes of the middle frame, setting the tone for the Pointers over the game's final 40 minutes of action.
After a third Pointer goal, this one by Connor Witherspon at 11:03,
Brendan Westbrook (Pine City, Minn.) got Saint Mary's on the board — netting his first as a Cardinals, off assists from
Kellen Tharaldson (Wausau, Wis.) and
Ryan Kerchoff (White Lake, Mich.) — with under five minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 3-1 heading into the third period.
A period that was dominated by the Pointers.
UW-Stevens Point scored three times in the first five minutes — and found the back of the net five times overall in the final stanza — to seal the victory.
Matt Sankner (Pennington, N.J.) recorded a career-high 39 saves in goal for the Cardinals, while UW-Stevens Point goalie Alex Proctor made 21 saves — seven in each of the three periods.
The Cardinals (1-3-1 overall) are back on their home ice on Saturday, as they host UW-Superior in a nonconference contest at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena. Opening face-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
