GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's hockey program defeated the University of Denver 7-4 Friday night.

The Pioneers (1-4) scored the first goal of the game two minutes in, but the Argos (2-0) answered midway through the period when senior AJ Belanger dropped the puck off for junior Jamal Shaw who buried his wrist shot to tie the game at one.

The Argos continued their momentum scoring five minutes later when senior Adam Husli found senior Fabian Vik on the break who kicked the puck to his stick and beat the goalkeeper to put UP in front 2-1.

Neither side was able to score the rest of the first period, but to begin the second the Argos extended their lead to two in the first 45 seconds when junior Sam Duehlmeier ripped a wrist shot from the point that bounced off the goalie to junior Daniel Tainton whose rebound found the back of the net.

Denver added a goal a couple minutes later, but the Argos answered with 14 minutes remaining in the second period when Belanger found Vik ahead of the defense and he shoved the puck five-hole on the goalie to give the Argos a 4-2 lead.

Moments later the Argos added another goal when junior William Osika skated behind the net and found senior Jamal Kalaf in front whose one-timer found the back of the net to put UP in front 5-2.

Tainton added his second goal of the game and freshman Devante Pratt-Fry found the back of the net a few minutes later to push the Argo lead to five, but the Pioneers scored a power-play goal to shorten the UP advantage to 7-3 heading into the third period.

The Pioneers added a goal late in the third period, but the Argos controlled the rest of the game as UP defeated the University of Denver 7-4.

The Argos will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 26 when they host the University of Colorado at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Ice Plex.