It was low scoring heartbreak for the Blue Streaks in their travels to Michigan.
 
John Carroll dropped a non-conference bout with Albion University, 7-6, in a game it came agonizingly close to winning but could not close matters out.
 
MacGregor Roberts and Connor Pike added two goals each, leading the offensive attack for the Blue Streaks. Kyle Lake made nine saves as the Blue Streaks net minder.
 
The majority of the first quarter would go without either team adding a score. It took until the 3:39 mark of the first frame when the hosting Britons added the opening tally.  Albion would add onto their lead just 42 seconds later with another goal. A response from the visiting Blue Streaks came with just 100 seconds to play when MacGregor Roberts tallied a goal that cut Albion's lead in half.
 
Albion controlled a 2-1 lead into the second quarter.
 
It would again be the hosting Britons to opening scoring for the second frame, thanks to back-to-back goals. Zach Hubbell slotted a shot past Lake, giving Albion a 3-1 lead with just under 10:30 to play in the first half. Hubbell added the second feature of the back-to-back tallies with 7:56 to play in the second quarter, giving a 4-1 lead to the hosts.
 
Tommy Adolf would stop the scoring trend for the Britons with an impressive goal. The defensive man charged down the field, slotting in a shot to the bottom right corner that cut the Blue Streak's deficit to two goals.
 
Adolf's goal is his second goal this season, setting a new career high in goals in a season.
 
The three goals from either quarter would wrap up the score sheet for the first half, giving the Britons a 4-2 lead at halftime.
 
John Carroll fired off 14 shots in the first half and won five of the eight face offs in the first half.
 
Stingy defense from both sides opened the second half. It would take until 7:41 to play in the third quarter for either team to break into the second half score sheet, when the Britons added to their lead.
 
The Blue Streaks were then chasing a 5-2 Britons' lead when a man up opportunity aided to a visitors scoring tally. Roberts was the supplier of that scoring play for the Blue Streaks, which also represented his second goal of the game. Collin Rice was tabbed with the assist.
 
Heading into the decisive fourth quarter, John Carroll trailed the defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions by a 5-3 count.
 
Declan O'Grady started the final frame by firing a shot off of the crossbar. After collecting the rebound, O'Grady slotted in the first scoring mark of the fourth quarter, bringing the Blue Streaks within one goal of Albion.
 
An equalizer would come from the Blue Streaks with 4:49 to play in regulation after Pike powered through a scoring tally. Pike's first goal of the game knotted things at 5-5 heading into the final minutes of regulation.
 
John Carroll would find the go-ahead goal. With just 1:49 to play in the fourth quarter, Pike pushed the Blue Streaks to their first lead of the game at 6-5, and had JCU on the brink of its first win over the Britons.

It would be a short lived advantage for the visiting Blue Streaks, however, as Albion evened the score back to six apiece just 16 seconds later. The Blue Streaks had an unfortunate turnover after winning the faceoff that led to an unchallenged Britons' goal.
 
Hubbell would provide the deciding tally with just 26 seconds to play in regulation. Hubbell's fifth goal of the game would give Albion a 7-6 victory.
 
With the loss, John Carroll moves to 2-3 on the year. The Blue Streaks will now return to University Heights for their final non-conference game against Illinois Wesleyan. Game time is set for Friday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m.