ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's hockey team will advance to their third-straight Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Harris Cup Playoffs semifinal after defeating visiting Lawrence University by the score of 6-2.
The Thunder wasted little time getting on the board. After an early penalty against the Vikings, the Trine power play lines worked the offense in the forward zone. After a pass reached Jackson Clark at the point where he quickly forwarded it to Josh Wright in the high slot. The sophomore fired a shot toward net where Tyler Blanchard was able to deflect it home.
The team added to their lead twice in the final five minutes of the period. Their second goal came in the 17th minute. Tim Organ started the play by holding the puck in the offensive zone when Lawrence attempted to clear it around the boards. He passed the puck back along the boards where Kyle Watson was waiting. The next pass went across the face of the goal and found Jack Cooper in the near faceoff circle with an open net ahead of him.
The Vikings pressed hard for a goal in the final minute of the period, but with just seconds remaining, Thad Marcola forced a turnover in the neutral zone. He collected the loose puck behind the defense and converted on the breakaway to give the team a 3-0 lead.
A couple of penalties against the Thunder gave Lawrence a 5-on-3 power play in the second period which ended with the visiting side cutting into the lead with their first goal of the day. Neither team scored in the remainder of the second and the score was 3-1 as the players went to the locker rooms for the second intermission.
Trine made the deficit three again in the opening minute of the third. This time Wright fired a shot from the middle of the offensive zone with the rebound ending up on the stick of Marcola in the far faceoff circle. Rather than a shot, the senior passed the puck across the face of the goal to Matteo Ybarra who was able to score the goal.
Lawrence cut into the lead again in the fifth minute of the period, when they generated a turnover in Trine's defensive zone.
Sam Antenucci scored two goals in the final five minutes of the contest to secure the 6-2 victory. Drew Welsch and Bobby Price added assists on his first goal, while the second was an empty netter and unassisted.
The Thunder improve to 20-7-0 following the victory. They advance to the semifinal round with the series victory. Their matchup for the next round is to be determined, with St. Norbert College having yet to finish their opening round series.
