ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University women's hockey team turned in a strong effort but were ultimately outmatched by nationally-ranked Aurora University with a score of 7-2.
Neither team scored in the first ten minutes of the game, with both goalies getting put to the test. Sophomore Ryleigh Furlong put in a strong effort from the start in net. She would eventually finish the game, her first of the season, with 42 saves.
Aurora, which was ranked 15th in the latest USCHO.com national poll, finally got behind the defense in the 11th minute of the contest and took the lead. They added a second goal in the 17th minute to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Both teams really found the offense in the second period combining for six goals in the first ten minutes of the period. The Spartans posted a pair in the first two minutes to build their lead to 4-0.
Following the second goal of the period, senior Grace Canty won the puck back from the dot toward her teammates. Junior Grace Hicks collected the puck and went up the left side of the rink. She poked the puck around one defender and fired a shot into the back of the net. The goal cut the lead to 4-1.
After a fifth Aurora goal in the ninth minute, Trine senior Sara Martino won another faceoff back for the team. Sophomore Kailey Mleko got to the puck this time and moved up the right side of the ice into the offensive zone. She fired a contested shot from the far circle that made its way into the back of the net.
The Spartans scored two more goals over the final part of the period and took the 7-2 lead into the second intermission. The score would go final after a final scoreless period.
The Thunder fall to 8-15-0 overall following the loss. They will host Lawrence University for their final regular season doubleheader. The games will determine the final seeding for the team in the upcoming Slaats Cup Playoffs. The first game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 17.