ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Trine University men's hockey team dropped out of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Harris Cup Playoffs with a 4-1 loss to top-seeded Adrian College.
The Thunder held strong in the first period playing exceptional defense to keep the Bulldogs off the board. In net for the team freshman Shane Brancato (Lake Villa, Ill.) held up his end of the bargain as well, turning aside nine shots from the opposition. He would end the game with 31 saves.
Adrian found their footing in the second period and tallied two goals to take a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. They made that lead three in the sixth minute of the final period.
Trine found the back of the net themselves in the 17th minute of the final period. Junior Garrett Hallford (Mckinney, Texas) scored the goal with senior Corey Robertson (South Lyons, Mich.) and freshman Chace McCardle (Southgate, Mich.) adding assists.
With two minutes remaining in the game and the season on the line, the Thunder pulled their goaltender in favor of an extra attacker. They were unable to get a goal and a last-minute empty-netter for the Bulldogs gave the game its final 4-1 score.
Trine ends the season with a 3-10-1 overall record and a 3-4-1 record in conference play.