ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University men's hockey team hosted Hamline University for the first contest of the season and fell by the score of 4-3.
The Thunder took the early lead in the contest with a goal int he 12th minute of the contest. Sophomore forward Garrett Hallford (McKinney, Texas) scored the goal with freshman forward Justin Meers (St. Charles, Mo.) and defenseman Justin Hendrickson (Marquette, Mich.) tallying the assists.
The team added to the lead just four minutes later when Hallford recorded his second goal of the contest. This time he received a pass in front of the net from linemate freshman Frank Trazzera (Keller, Texas) with Meers adding another assist.
A last-minute powerplay goal from the Pipers pulled them back within one as the teams headed to the first intermission with Trine leading 2-1.
The only goals scored in the second period came for Hamline both were powerplay goals. The Thunder entered the second intermission trailing 3-2.
Hamline added to their lead in just the second minute of the third period and it looked like the Thunder would fall as they continued to trail 3-1 late into the final stanza.
In the 17th minute, however, freshman defenseman Brad Jenion (Macclesfield, Great Britain) came up with the first goal of his career to pull the team within in one at 4-3. Junior Blake Robertson (South Lyon, Mich.) and Hallford added assists on the goal.
Trine pulled the goaltender in the final minute of play and two penalties on the Pipers gave the Thunder 6-3 chance in the final seconds of the contest, but they were unable to tie the contest and fell 4-3.
The Thunder will take on Hamline again tomorrow, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.