ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine men's NCAA hockey team tallied their first win in NCHA play with a 4-2 victory over visiting Finlandia University. Freshman forward Christian Karbler (Westland, Mich.) led the way for Trine with his first two goals of the season, the second of which would end up being the game-winner.
It looked like it would be a long night for the Thunder when just 45 seconds into the game the Lions found the back of the net, after a turnover by Trine in the defensive end. Finlandia would hold onto the 1-0 lead for 13 minutes.
Karbler would score his first goal of the night to even the game at one. Freshman forward Corey Robertson (South Lyon, Mich.) began the play from behind the Lions' net, passing the puck out to fellow freshman forward Michael Meisenbacher (Basking Ridge, N.J.). Karbler received the pass from Meisenbacher and buried the puck in the back of the net.
The score would remain 1-1 until the halfway mark of the second period when senior forward Ryan Murray (Farmington Hills, Mich.) took the puck the length of the ice and scored. The goal, a short-handed one, was Murray's third of the season.
Three minutes later the Thunder found themselves on the power play. Freshman blueliner Chris Garrity (Stafford, Va.) passed the puck across the point to sophomore defender Daunte Suffredini (Shelby Township, Mich.) who wasted no time rocketing a shot at the goal. Karbler found redirected the shot past the goaltender to give the Thunder a 3-1 lead.
Finlandia pulled within one five minutes into the third period, putting a shot over the left shoulder of the Thunder goalie.
With the score 3-2, Trine found themselves with a faceoff attempt in the offensive zone. Freshman forward Alex Johanson (Skokie, Ill.) won it and poked the puck out to senior forward Lucas Bombardier (Pittsford, Vt.) who turned around near the boards. Bombardier passed the puck across the front of the net to freshman defender Blake Robertson (South Lyon, Mich.) who blasted it past the Finlandia goalie, to give the Thunder the 4-2 win.
Trine finished the game with a dominating 52-27 lead in shots. Sophomore Brett Young (Livonia, Mich.) got the start in net for the Thunder and finished the game with 25 saves and the win.
Trine will face a challenge tomorrow, January 27 when nationally-ranked St. Norbert College comes to town for a 4 p.m. contest.