LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Trine University men's hockey team rolled to a convincing 6-1 victory over their hosts from Lake Forest College. Five different members of the team scored in the contest.
The Thunder took the lead in the middle of the first period. After some back-and-forth play in the neutral zone, Michael DiPietra gained control for the team. He passed it up the boards where Jack Cooper was able to forward it into the offensive zone. The puck took a strange bounce off the boards and DiPietra was able to fire a quick shot from the right circle that ended up in the back of the net.
The 1-0 lead lasted into the second period, when the Foresters knotted the game with their first goal of the game.
In the eighth minute, Thad Marcola carried the puck into the offensive zone skating toward the redline on the right side of the net. He flipped a pass toward the net where Chace McCardle was ready to fire a shot that deflected off Matteo Ybarra for the goal.
They extended that lead to 3-1 when they scored a power play goal in the final minutes of the second period. After a Drew Welsch shot earned the team a faceoff attempt in the offensive zone, Tyler Fox was able to win the puck back toward the center of the ice where it settled in the high slot. Brendan Finn skated to the puck and fired a shot over the right shoulder of the opposing goalie for the score.
The fourth goal for the Thunder came in the fifth minute of the final period. With both teams down a man, Trine possessed the puck in the offensive end for a good minute of game time. The Foresters finally took possession and attempted to clear the zone, but Ybarra kept the puck in the zone before zipping a pass in front of the net. Josh Wright was in perfect position to score the goal on the far side of the net.
The tally opened the dam and the Thunder scored two more goals in the period to finish with a commanding 6-1 victory. Finn added his second of the night during the stretch, while Bobby Price scored his first.
The Thunder dominated possession in the game, keeping pressure to a minimum for Kyle Kozma who made the start in net. He finished the game with 12 saves and just the one goal allowed.
Trine improves to 6-1-0 overall and 2-1-0 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play following the victory. They will finish off the weekend doubleheader against the Foresters tomorrow, Saturday, November 18. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT.