St. Norbert Settles For Split In Series With Pointers

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, November 2, 2019 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - In a high-powered two-game home-and-home non-conference series to open the season, UW-Stevens Point salvaged a split with a 3-1 win over St. Norbert College at Cornerstone Community Center.

The Green Knights, ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com Division III Poll, took the series opener 3-2 in overtime Friday in Stevens Point. The Pointers are ranked No. 1 by USCHO.com.

St. Norbert took the lead at 15:01 of the first period when Brendan Aird cleaned up a loose puck in the crease during a big scrum in front of the net. Luke Davison and Ben Schmidling were credited with assists.

The goal held up until early in the second period when the Pointers' Zach Zech finished into a wide-open net on a backdoor shot for a power-play goal at 5:48 of the second. The score would remain tied 1-1 after two periods.

St. Norbert killed off a major penalty to open the third period and had a power-play opportunity at the 7:33 mark. Just after the penalty expired, Stevens Point had a breakaway chance leading to a penalty shot. Luke McElhenie converted at 9:42 for the lead. The Pointers picked up an insurance goal at 14:12 when Ryan MacKellar scored off a faceoff in the offensive zone.

The Green Knights would bring on an extra attacker for the last 3:10, but couldn't draw closer.

Stevens Point outshot the Green Knights 24-17, including 20-9 in the last two periods. Ryan Bontorin made 21 saves for St. Norbert, while Eli Billing made 16 stops for the Pointers.

St. Norbert was 0-for-6 on the power play, while Stevens Point was 1-for-5.