ANGOLA, Ind. -- Senior Garrett Hallford (McKinney, Texas) finished the game with the second hat trick of his career as he led the Trine University men's hockey team to a 4-1 victory over visiting Concordia University Wisconsin.
The Thunder struck for their first goal in the tenth minute of game. Following a shot from junior Frank Trazzera (Keller, Texas) that was turned aside by the Falcon goalie, freshman Drew Welsch (Trenton, Mich.) settled the rebound and handed the puck off to senior Brandon Krumpschmid (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Krumpschmid wasted little time punishing the goalie for the rebound with a goal that gave the team a 1-0 lead.
Hallford scored the first of his goals just over a minute later. Junior Brett Piper (Cartier, Manitoba) started the play with a pass from behind the net which ended up on the stick of classmate Justin Meers (St. Charles, Mo.) in front of the net. He would settle the puck and push it to Hallford who was just on the other side of the defender and easily scored the goal. The 2-0 lead would last into the first intermission.
Hallford would score the lone goal of the second period to build that lead to three. Once again it was Piper who started the play. After receiving a pass from the point Piper would fire a pass to Meers in the flat where he moved toward the goal and fired the puck in front of the net. Hallford was waiting at the back door to send the puck home.
Concordia scored their lone goal of the contest in the eighth minute of the third period making the score 3-1.
With the two teams playing four-on-four hockey, senior Hunter Payment (Monroe, Mich.) came up with a turnover in the defensive end of the ice. He would fire a pass up the board to Hallford who made a pair of defenders miss before completing his hat trick by going over the goalie. The 4-1 lead would last through the conclusion of the game.
Sophomore Shane Brancato (Lake Villa, Ill.) picked up his fourth win in net following the victory. He finished the contest with 19 saves.
The Thunder improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play following the weekend sweep of the visiting Falcons. They will next take the ice when they travel to face Adrian College on Friday, Nov. 19. That contest is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
