Icepack Beats West Virginia 5-4 to Sweep Series

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – NC State defeated West Virginia 5-4 on Saturday to sweep the weekend series.  

BOX SCORE | SKATER STATS

Jake Gifford opened the scoring less than two minutes into the first period off a faceoff, assisted by Daniel Prazma and Zach Herman. After West Virginia tied the game, Cam Smith netted his first Icepack goal to regain the lead, assisted by Austin Finch. Prazma added a third NC State goal with less than a minute remaining in the period, assisted by Erik Dahlin and Herman, giving the Icepack a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

NC State started the second period with a power play and extended its lead shortly after its man advantage ended. Ian Buckley scored his first Icepack career goal to put NC State up 4-1 off of assists from Joey Gouveia and Jack Ammons.

Prazma scored his second goal of the game early in the third period, assisted by Gifford – his third point of the day – and Mason Payne. West Virginia responded with their third goal of the game on a power play to cut the deficit to one, but NC State held on for a 5-4 victory. 

The Icepack left West Virginia with two wins, strong play from goaltender Pieter Bartelse, and the first career goals for Smith, Buckley, and Gian Khani. Goaltender Isaac Tawyer, NC State’s all-time leader in saves and wins, added to both milestones after Friday night’s game. 

NC State returns to action next weekend with a home-and-home series against UNC. The Icepack plays Friday at Invisalign Arena and Saturday at First Horizon Coliseum, home of the Greensboro Gargoyles.