ANGOLA, IND. – The Trine women's hockey team fell short in a comeback attempt against Aurora University, falling to the Spartans 3-2.
Neither team could crack through the defense during the first period. Both teams struggled to even find opportunities with both teams failing to finish with double digit shots in the period.
The scoring started in earnest in the second period. Just 34 seconds into the period the Spartans found the back of the net to take the 1-0 lead.
The Thunder responded just one minute later, when freshman defender Bailey Goodwin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) took the puck the length of the ice and put it past the Aurora goalie from the bottom of the right circle. Her second goal of the season tied the game at one goal.
The Spartans pulled ahead again in the sixth minute of the period. They would take the 2-1 lead into the second intermission despite a barrage of shots from the Thunder offense. Trine outshot Aurora in the period 16-5.
Early in the final stanza the Thunder would tie the game again when sophomore forward Sydney Hernalsteen (Macomb, Mich.) scored an unassisted goal in just the second minute of the period. The goal was her third of the season.
The draw would hold until the 17th minute of the period when the Spartans once again found the back of the net. They would hold on to the 3-2 lead to come away with the victory.
Following the loss the Thunder fall to 4-9-1 overall and 2-8 in the NCHA. They are once again tied with Aurora in the standings.
The Thunder travel to Northland College next weekend for a pair of NCHA contests. On Friday, January 26 the game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.