GENEVA, Ill. – The Trine University women's hockey team recorded their second shutout victory of the season, defeating their hosts from Aurora University by the score of 4-0.
The Thunder opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the contest, converting on a power play opportunity. Emma-Lyn Stephenson handed the puck off to Dorka Gengeliczky in the near faceoff circle. Gengeliczky fired a shot from the just above the redline that was blocked by a defender. Chloe Downey recovered the loose puck on the other side of the net. Her first shot was saved, but the second was true.
Just over 30 seconds later the team doubled up their lead. Hannah Lambers intercepted a pass in the defensive zone and took the puck through the neutral zone and up the near boards. She made a single pass back toward the net, with Olivia Porthan deflecting it home for the score.
Trine scored again just seconds into the second period. This time Lambers intercepted a clearing attempt in the offensive zone. She quickly fired a shot toward net from the top of the far circle with Stephenson deflecting into the net.
The team scored their final tally in the second minute of the third stanza, once again on the power play. After a forward faceoff win by Aleah Bienek, Lambers ended up with the puck at the top of the far circle. Her slapshot went wide and wrapped around the boards to the near faceoff circle where Cassandra Biblow collected it. She made a pass to the redline to Downey, who quickly returned it to the slot. Biblow was in perfect position to score the goal.
The shutout was locked down by Claire Schmaltz who played the contest in net. The junior made 37 saves on the way to her first shutout and victory of the season.
The Thunder improve to 7-11-2 overall and 2-9-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play after the win. They will look to secure a sweep tomorrow, Saturday, January 31 in their second matchup against Aurora. That game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT.
