ANGOLA, Ind. – After a nightmare first period, the Trine University women's hockey team played tough for the final two periods allowing Adrian to score just one more goal. The final for the game was 5-0.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the opening minutes of play, scoring their first goal in the second minute. They added four more in the stanza, including one in the final seconds, to build a commanding 5-0 lead for the first intermission.
The second period saw a seemingly different Thunder team take the ice, led by a change at goaltender. Freshman Ella Parks took over between the pipes for the team and affected immediate change in the defensive mentality. She would ultimately allow one goal, while the team was on the penalty kill, while making 39 saves.
The defense did their best in front of the goalie as well, turning in 25 blocks during the contest. Both Dorka Gengeliczky and Taryn Raisanen led the way in the category coming up with four apiece.
The Thunder received help from around the conference and, despite the loss on their home ice, they have secured a spot in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Slaats Cup Playoffs. Both Lawrence University and the University of Dubuque lost their Friday night contests giving the Thunder a three-point cushion and the tiebreakers and locking them into seventh place in the standings.
Trine falls to 6-17-1 overall and 2-12-1 in NCHA play. They will look to bounce back tomorrow, Saturday, February 9 when they travel to Adrian, Mich. for the second half of the weekend doubleheader. Opening puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m.