ANGOLA, Ind. -- Five different skaters scored for the Trine University men's hockey team on the way to a 5-3 victory over visiting Buffalo State. Junior Brett Tierney (West Chicago, Ill.) led the way for the team offensively finishing with two points in the game.
The Bengals took the early lead in the contest, when in the sixth minute of the first period a long pass ping-ponged through the Thunder defense to an open skater who beat Elias Sandholm (Stockholm, Sweden) for the goal.
Trine avoided entering intermission down with a goal of their own in the 19th minute. After a turnover in the offensive zone Buffalo State attempted to clear the puck from the zone, but Tierney rushed to get a stick on the puck and keep it in the offensive zone. He then quickly passed the puck to senior Garrett Hallford (McKinney, Texas) who advanced toward the goal before firing a low shot that tied the game at one.
Out of the break the Thunder would strike again. Right around the third minute of the period, sophomore Chace McCardle (Southgate, Mich.) fired a shot from near the blueline which freshman Bobby Price (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) tipped toward the net. The Bengal goalie came up with the save but left the rebound go free and junior Justin Meers (St. Charles, Mo.) tapped it home to give the team the 2-1 lead.
Just over three minutes later they added to their lead. After a shot on goal by freshman Drew Welsch (Trenton, Mich.) was turned aside, the Buffalo State defense attempted to clear the puck from the zone. Senior Hunter Payment (Monroe, Mich.) intercepted the pass near the blue line and carried the puck for a few strides before firing the puck on net, right by the goalie.
Following a penalty by the Thunder near the ten-minute mark of the period, the Bengals pulled back within striking distance after working the pass around the ice and confusing the defense. The teams would hold ground for the rest of the period and enter the intermission with the 3-2 score.
Another power play goal for Buffalo State in the 13th minute of the final stanza tied the game at three.
The tie was short lived however as Trine took back the lead in the 15th minute. After another clear attempt by the Bengals, sophomore Jared Bowman (Calgary, Alberta) kept the puck in the zone and passed it off to freshman Tyler Shetland (Laguna Hills, Calif.) who in turn passed it back toward the blueline. Tierney was there to collect the puck and fire a long distance shot on goal to take the lead 4-3.
With just over a minute remaining in the period, Buffalo State pulled their goalie in an attempt to score another equalizer. The plan backfired when a wayward pass from a Bengal defender just made it across the unprotected goal line. Sophomore Jackson Clark (Fort Mill, S.C.) received credit for the goal.
Sandholm finished the game in net with 15 saves and his third win of the season.
The Thunder improve to 7-3 following the win. They will return to Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play for their next game. They are set to host Marian University on Friday, December 3 at 7 p.m.
