ANGOLA, Ind. – In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, the seventh-ranked Trine University men's hockey team defeated visiting #12 Adrian College by the score of 3-1, securing at least the three seed in the upcoming Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Harris Cup Playoffs.

Both teams looked tense in the first period, with neither finding a rhythm on offense. The Bulldogs held a slight lead in the shots on goal category, 5-4, but neither team found the back of the net. Freshman Ronnie Petrucci made his second start in net for the Thunder and made all four saves in the first, he ultimately finished the game with 29 saves.

Trine broke the stalemate at the five-minute mark of the second period. Alexander Babich caused a turnover in the defensive zone before making a quick pass that created a three-on-two opportunity for the team. Kyle Watson took the puck the length of the ice and used the space gained form the odd man rush to find an open shot on net and give the team a 1-0 lead.

They added to that lead three minutes later. After another takeaway in the defensive zone, Babich scored on his own. He skated just inside the blueline before attempting to dump the puck behind the net. Instead of an offensive faceoff, the puck took a lucky bounce off the boards and then off the backside of the goalie's blocker and into the net.

A late goal by the Bulldogs cut into the deficit and made the score 2-1 at the second intermission.

Neither team scored through most of the final stanza and the visiting team pulled their tender in the final minutes to look for the equalizer. Instead, Babich caused another turnover in the defensive zone, forcing the puck to Kyle DeMarco who flicked past the last line of the Adrian defense and into the neutral zone. Brendan Finn skated the rest of the way and deposited the goal in the empty net for the 3-1 victory.

The Thunder improve to 18-5-1 overall and 12-4-1 in NCHA play following the win. They will look to secure another win and keep their hopes of a second-place finish in the standings alive tomorrow, Saturday, February 15. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in Adrian, Mich.