Byron Center, Mich. — Two goals in the first period, two more in the second and one more at the start of the third was too much for the Aquinas men's hockey team to overcome Friday night (Jan. 27) at the Southside Ice Arena.

The No. 10-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers (25-5) skated to a comfortable 5-1 non-conference road victory and dropped the Saints (13-13) back down to the .500 mark with their third straight defeat.

GVSU gradually built up its 5-0 lead behind four different goal scorers. Tristan Avoletta opened the scoring halfway through the first period and Carson Korte, who provided one of the helpers on Avoletta's first goal, doubled the advantage to 2-0 with three minutes left in the opening frame.

Andrew Dundas and Zach Borchardt each scored the middle frame to have AQ looking up at a 4-0 deficit going into the second intermission. Dundas scored on the power play with Shane Haggerty picking up his 25th assist of the season. Gage Thrall assisted Borchardt's goal for his 26th assist of the season.

Avoletta scored his second goal of the game 2:31 into the third period to make it 5-0.

Aquinas scored a consolation power-play goal by Christian Look, unassisted, with 11:54 remaining to break up the shutout bid for GVSU goaltender Devin Naidow. The goal ended a Saints' scoring drought of 114 minutes and 21 seconds, as Aquinas was approached nearly two full games without a breakthrough.

It was Look's fourth goal of the season to go with his 15 assists.

Despite giving up five goals, AQ netminder Max Johnston made a handful of big saves through the evening and ended up with 46 stops. GVSU outshot Aquinas, 51-40.

The two regional rivals will meet again on Saturday (Jan. 28) at 5:30 p.m. as the Saints host the rematch of the home-and-home series at the Southside Ice Arena. The Aquinas women's hockey team will take to the ice against No. 5-ranked Indiana Tech following the conclusion of the men's game.