Lake Forest defeated visiting Trine University 3-1 Saturday night in the second game of their Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup Quarterfinal series. Unfortunately for the Foresters, Trine came out on top 1-0 in the ensuing 20-minute minigame that decided the series.
After a scoreless opening period, Forester senior Austin put the home team on the scoreboard when he put back a rebound from the Trine goaltender at the 14:54 mark of the second. Freshman forward Drew Shields and senior defenseman Zach Feldman assisted on Aksoy's 11th score of the season.
Lake Forest doubled its lead at the 17:35 mark on junior forward Joey Sardina's sixth of the year. Shields and junior forward Kyler Magus were each credited with an assist on the play.
The score remained 2-0 until, with 8:20 remaining in the third period, the Foresters were awarded a penalty shot following a tripping call on the Thunder. Sophomore forward Zach Leonard converted for his fourth goal of the season and the home team was ahead 3-0.
Trine avoided the shutout with a score at 14:39 and later played for more than three minutes with an extra attacker instead of a goalie but were unable to cut into the Foresters' two-goal lead.
Lake Forest out-shot the visitors 43-27 in the contest.
Junior Boyd DiClemente finished the game with 26 saves and increased his program record victory total on the season to 17.
With the series tied at a game apiece, the teams returned to the ice for a 20-minute minigame to decide which would travel to Adrian College for next Saturday's NCHA Harris Cup semifinal. While the Foresters had an 11-6 edge in shots on goal, the Thunder accounted for the only score at the 10:26 mark.
Lake Forest is now 18-6-3 and Trine 13-11-3 on the season.