ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's hockey team led from start to finish to pick up a 5-2 victory over visiting Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), rebounding from an overtime loss yesterday. The win secures the series victory for the Thunder as the end with four points from the win and overtime loss.
The home side started the scoring in the tenth minute of the game. After a defensive takeaway, the offense perfectly executed a 3-on-2 breakaway opportunity with sophomore Tim Organ benefiting with the goal. Junior Thad Marcola and freshman Evan Carroll were the other members of the trio, each earning assists for their passing.
It ended up being the lone goal of the period despite Trine outshooting the opposition 15-3 in the period. They took the 1-0 lead into the intermission.
It didn't take long to build on the lead in the second with the Thunder scoring a goal in the second minute of play. After an offensive zone faceoff win, senior Justin Meers passed the puck back to Organ at the point. The defender fired a shot that ricocheted off of a Raider defender and forced a save from the goalie. The rebound landed just in front of the net and senior Frank Trazzera was able to muscle it into the back of the net.
The lead was reduced back to one in the 13th minute when the Raiders scored their first goal of the day.
A minute and half later Trine responded aided by a power play opportunity. Marcola started the play from behind the MSOE net passing the puck to senior Garrett Hallford who skated back to the point before turning back toward the net. Hallford threw the puck toward the goal and senior Brendan Prappas was able to finish off with the goal making the score 3-1.
In the 18th minute the Thunder extended the lead to 4-1 with the final goal of the second. Marcola fired a shot from the top of the faceoff circle after receiving a pass from classmate Chace McCardle. While the Raiders' goalie was able to make the save, he once again left the rebound in close. This time sophomore Bobby Price was the recipient of the second chance, converting for the goal.
MSOE found a bit of new life in the sixth minute of the third when a turnover in Trine's defensive zone became their second goal of the night making the score 4-2. Junior Beau Binnie put a final end to that hope in the final minute of play, scoring an unassisted empty-net goal to seal the game at 5-2.
Freshman Kyle Kozma picked up his third win of the season in net for the Thunder. He made 22 saves despite allowing the pair of goals.
Trine improves to 12-6-1 overall and 7-5-0 in NCHA play following the victory. The team has next weekend off, before hosting St. Nobert College in another NCHA doubleheader beginning on Friday, January 27. Opening puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.