The second two-goal game for junior forward Troy Nelson in the last eight days was not enough for the Foresters Friday night in a 5-4 overtime loss to Trine University in the opener of their Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup quarterfinal series.
Nelson scored the first goal of the series with 3:55 remaining in the opening period. Sophomore forward Zach Leonard and junior defenseman Mark DerManulian assisted on the play.
Trine tied the score with 47.8 seconds on the clock and the teams went into the locker rooms at the first intermission deadlocked at one.
Lake Forest regained the lead just 64 seconds in the second period when junior forward Joey Sardina blasted a shot past the Thunder goaltender for his fifth score of the season. Freshman forward Drew Shields and junior forward Kyler Magus earned assists on the go-ahead goal. Nelson netted his second of the night and fifth of the year just two-and-a-half minutes later with sophomore forward Max Cavallini picking up the assist.
After out-shooting the visitors 21-14 in the first two periods combined, the Foresters put just seven shots on goal to Trine's 13 in the third period. The Thunder converted a power play opportunity at the 6:33 mark but Lake Forest regained its two-goal lead just 61 seconds later on the team-high 15th score of the season for sophomore forward Josh Giacomin. Junior forward Aaron O'Neill and senior forward Austin Aksoy assisted Giacomin.
Another power play goal for the visitors at 11:35 made it a one-score game. The Foresters were assessed their third penalty of the period with 2:26 left and the Thunder pulled their goalie less than a minute later. The move paid off and the contest was all tied up with 1:15 on the clock.
The only shot on goal in overtime went in and Trine pulled off the victory to improve to 13-10-3 on the season. Lake Forest, the 10th-ranked team in the nation, fell to 17-6-3.
Game two of the series will begin Saturday night at 7:00 and the Foresters will need a victory in that contest and in the ensuing 20-minute minigame to advance to the semifinal round.