BOZEMAN, Mont. – The #3 University of Providence hockey team fell to #8 Montana State 7-3 Sunday evening in the final game of the Argo season before the holiday break. The loss comes two days after the squad defeated the Bobcats (13-6-1) at the Great Falls Ice Plex.

The Argos (6-3) got into a hole early, allowing two goals in the first period. Stanislav Struthers got the squad on the board, scoring a goal with just under three minutes left in the first period to cut into the deficit.

The Bobcats managed to extend the lead again early in the second, but Will Wright and Ty Alger scored goals late in the second to tie it up heading into the final period. The wheels came off in the third, as the Argos allowed a total of four goals to the Bobcats for a final score of 7-3.

"I thought we were going to be okay," head coach Jeff Heimel said. "We scored late in the second to give us some momentum heading into the third. It just wasn't what you wanted to draw up and have happen. We got a little undisciplined and didn't end on the right side of things. The third period was the deciding factor in that."

Jakob Stevenson led the team with two assists on the night, while Levi Anderson, Leo Felt and Gabe Kwiatkowski all finished with one. Tristan Lewis got the start in the net for the Argos, finishing with 40 saves.

The Argos will have a month off before they take the ice again. They'll take on the top-seeded University of Mary Marauders on Jan. 7 at the Great Falls Ice Plex.

At the end of the day, we have to focus on the big picture stuff," Heimel said. "Losses happen. Whatever we can learn from them we need to take away from them and get better. It's all about peaking at the right time. We still put ourselves in a decent position moving on into the break here. We have the tools, we have the horses to get it done. We just have to be better."