Icepack goes 1-1 on the first weekend back home

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Icepack fell to West Chester 8-4 in a late-night, high-scoring matchup Saturday. 

BOX SCORE | SKATER STATS | HIGHLIGHTS 

West Chester set the tone early, scoring twice in the opening 12 minutes to jump out to a fast start. Ben Paterson set up Austin Finch on a rush to make it 2-1 with less than two minutes remaining. Daniel Prazma tied it 50 seconds later to send the game into intermission equal. 

NC State took its first lead of the night early in the second period when Brandon Raleigh tipped in a shot for his first career goal with the Icepack. Raleigh also scored in December’s Canes Alumni exhibition against former Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward, but Saturday’s goal marked his first in an official capacity. 

The Rams responded with three consecutive goals to regain the lead before Joey Gouveia scored 23 seconds after West Chester’s most recent goal, cutting the deficit to one goal late in the second period. 

West Chester pulled away in the third period with three more goals, including a hat trick from Logan Myers. Reece Johnson rang a shot off the underside of the crossbar during 4-on-4 play, but the puck stayed out as the Icepack were held scoreless in the third period. 

Both teams finished with four power play opportunities. West Chester converted twice, while NC State went 0-for-4. The Icepack closed the weekend with a 1-1 record in nonconference play.