Adrian, MI – It was a winning weekend for Adrian College NCAA Ice Hockey, securing four victories over Trine University in two home-and-home series.
Adrian Men Sweep Trine, Capture NCHA Title…
The men’s team hosted the No. 10 Thunder Friday night at the Arrington Ice Arena. No. 3 Bulldogs opened the scoring in the first period with Ian Amsbaugh finding the back of the net. Later in the period, Casey Gerstein extended the Adrian lead to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. In the second period, Adrian grabbed an early goal off the stick of Bradley Somers to take a 3-0 lead. Later in the period, Trine found themselves on a breakaway and scored to cut into the Bulldog lead. With under two minutes to go in the second period, Riley Murphy was hooked on a breakaway which resulted in a penalty shot which he scored to take a 4-1 lead into the third period.
In the third period, Jacob Julien scored a goal to give the Bulldogs a 5-1 lead which was followed by a goal from Mathew Rehding to lead 6-1. Trine scored late in the period, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs locked up the win. Dershahn Stewart started in goal for the Adrian where he finished the night with 28 saves.
The victory gave Adrian College their fifth consecutive NCHA Regular Season Championship. The 2023-24 NCHA Regular Season Championship marks the 15th Conference Championship for the Bulldogs in program history.
AC traveled down to Angola, Indiana Saturday evening to wrap-up their regular season. In the first period, Trine grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal. Late in the period, Riley Murphy put the Bulldogs on the board which was followed by a goal from Mathew Rehding 39 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Both first period goals for Adrian came on the power play.
In the second period, Trine collected a pair of goals within 18 seconds of each other to reclaim the lead 3-2. The Bulldogs answered back with a pair of goals in the second to lead 4-3 entering the third. Murphy netted his second of the game to tie the game followed by a goal from Alec Lovisek.
It was all Adrian in the third period where they went on to add three more goals. Connor May scored early in the period to lead 5-3 before scoring again on an empty net with 1:17 to play. Ryan Pitoscia scored 13 seconds later to pick up an insurance goal and win 7-3.
Nolan Suggs started in goal for the Bulldogs where he finished the night with 21 saves including 11 in the second period.
Adrian finishes the regular season with a 19-5-1 record and a 16-2-0 NCHA record. The Bulldogs will head into the NCHA Harris Cup Playoffs as the No. 1 seed where they will have home ice advantage for the conference tournament. The Bulldogs will host the quarterfinals next weekend starting on Friday, February 16 at 3:00 PM. The Bulldogs will play Concordia University.
Adrian Women Complete Perfect NCHA Regular Season…
The Adrian College NCAA women’s hockey team began its two-game series with the Trine University Thunder on the road on Friday night. The Bulldogs went on to defeat Trine, 5-0. Just under two minutes into the game, Une Bjelland scored to give Adrian a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, Karmen Anderson scored to lead 2-0. Bjelland went on to net her second of the game with under three minutes to go in the first period to lead 3-0. Bjelland’s second goal of the game put her in second all-time in program history in goals. With under a minute left in the first, Callie Wollschlager added to the scoring giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 advantage entering the first intermission.
The Bulldogs went on to add another goal in the second period off the stick of Jocelin Hudanish to lead 5-0. The third period went scoreless for both sides handing the Bulldogs a 5-0 victory.
Annie Gilbert earned the shutout in goal on Friday night where she totaled nine saves. Adrian went on to record 58 shots on goal.
The Bulldogs completed its regular season on Saturday afternoon with the series finale against Trine University. Annika Hanson started the scoring for Adrian in the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, Hunter Reardon scored to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead entering the second period. It was a silent second period until late when Allie Hudenschmidt scored to lead 3-0. The Bulldogs went off for four goals in the third to win 7-0. Tia Lascelle and Saige Biddle scored for Adrian followed by Hubenschmidt’s second goal of the game, and the final goal from Sydnie Crockett.
Biddle added an assist to her goal for a two-point afternoon while Maya Roy finished the day with a pair of assists. Annie Gilbert started in goal for Adrian where she earned the shutout and recorded nine saves.
The Bulldogs finished the NCHA season with a perfect 16-0-0 record. This is the second time in program history in which Adrian finished the season with an undefeated conference record. The last time the team went undefeated in the NCHA, they advanced to the NCAA National Championship.
The Bulldogs hold the No. 1 seed for the NCHA Slaats Cup Playoffs slated to begin on Friday, February 16 with the first game of the quarterfinals. Adrian will face Lawrence University, and will have home ice advantage for the NCHA Playoffs. Friday’s quarterfinal game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.