ANGOLA, IND. -- A three-goal first period was enough to vault Trine women's hockey to victory over Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) opponent Aurora University, 3-1. With the victory, the Thunder improve to 2-7 in the NCHA, 4-8-1 overall, and move ahead of the Spartans in the NCHA standings.
The scoring started when freshman forward Jessica Sloat (Cary, Ill.) intercepted the puck at the offensive blueline and took a shot which bounced off the side of the net. Freshman forward Hannah Nelson (Libertyville, Ill.) was there to scoop up the loose puck and was able to force it past the goalkeeper for her first goal of the season.
Trine added a second goal in the 13th minute of the period when they took advantage of a powerplay opportunity. Freshman defender Bailey Goodwin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) scored the goal with a slapshot from the point, it was her first goal of the season. Both freshman forward Eryn Isaacson (Fenton Mich.) and freshman defender Kailey Cameron (Nowthen, Minn.) recorded assists on the goal.
Aurora finally responded with a goal of their own in the 15th minute of the first period, when Brenna Hannon got behind the special teams and scored the short-handed goal.
The Thunder were undeterred by the goal responding with one of their own in just two minutes later. Freshman defender Jade Pandres (Eagle River, Alaska) started the play by bringing the puck into the offensive zone and shooting it from the top of the right circle. The Spartan goalie made a save, but could not control the puck which freshman forward Sierra Westner (Saginaw, Mich.) collected and sent to the front of the net. Isaacson received and buried her team-high sixth goal of the season to give Trine the 3-1 lead.
The Thunder defense would clamp down and hold Aurora off the board for the remainder of the game to come away with the victory.
Sophomore Molly Scarborough (Ramsey, Minn.) once again got the start in net. She finished the game with 23 saves and only the one goal allowed.
The Thunder will look for the weekend sweep over Aurora tomorrow, Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m.