ADRIAN, Mich. – The women's hockey team finished off the 2025 Trine University Athletics schedule by traveling to face nationally ranked Adrian College in a non-conference tilt. The Thunder put up a valiant effort in the contest, ultimately falling 6-4. The four goals represent the most in a game against the Bulldogs, doubling the previous mark of two which was set in 2021.
Adrian scored the first four goals of the contest. They netted three in the first period, starting with a power play in the 15th minute and ending in the final seconds of the stanza. They struck first in the second period scoring in the third minute out of the intermission.
The Thunder responded to the fourth Bulldog goal just 30 seconds later. After securing a takeaway in the defensive zone and quickly transitioning to offense. Abigale Bruner ended up with the puck behind the net, passing it forward through the crease to the near faceoff circle, Ella Porter may have tipped that pass along the way. Mackenzye Santora received the pass and fired a shot toward net, with Porter tipping it home from just next to the goalie.
The team cut further into the lead in the last minute of the period. Again following a takeaway on defense Trine moved the puck through the neutral zone and around the back of the net. It was a messier trip with the puck ending up tied up on the near boards by the faceoff circle. Ryleigh White  and Sydney Streb combined to regain the puck and pass it toward the slot. Cassandra Biblow was waiting and read to fire a shot into the top half of the net. The teams went to the second intermission with a 4-2 score.
Adrian scored twice more to start the third, building a four-goal deficit again at 6-2 with seven minutes remaining in regulation.
The Thunder refused to end their year meekly, responding quickly with their third goal of the game. The tally came during a power play. The team worked the offense along the near boards with Hannah Lambers, Faith Jordan and Chloe Downey trading passes. Eventually Downey stopped passing and snuck a shot through the near side of the goal to make the score 6-3.
Trine continued their comeback attempt in the 18th minute with their fourth goal of the game. White and Streb combined for the final goal, each earning their second point of the contest. White dug the puck out of a scrum along the boards in the defensive zone before weaving through the ice to the other end. She passed the puck around the final defender finding Streb at the top of the far faceoff circle where she fired a shot home.
The 6-4 score eventually went final, with the Thunder unable to hold possession long enough in the final minutes to pull the goalie for some extra offense.
In addition to the most goals scored against Adrian, the game is tied for second closest contest between the two teams. Only an overtime contest in January of 2019 was closer.
The Thunder fall to 3-7-1 overall after the loss. They will quickly return to the ice, hosting Lebanon Valley College on Friday, January 2. The first Trine athletic contest of the new year is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
