Icepack Skate Past South Carolina 4-3

The NC State Icepack grabbed a massive 4-3 victory over the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in a heated match this past Friday.
The 4-0 Icepack faced off against the 5-0 Gamecocks in a very physical matchup, with both teams looking to keep their undefeated seasons alive. Reece Johnson quickly made his presence known on the ice, stripping the puck from a USC defender in the corner and feeding Nick Shook for a goal just over four minutes into the period. Soon after the Icepack power play unit would get to work after a Gamecocks interference penalty, which resulted in Joey Gouveia scoring a rebound goal off of yet another Johnson steal.

The Icepack would spend a lot of time in the box during the second period, with the NC State penalty kill units showing their skills. Early in the period, the Gamecocks would score just as their powerplay opportunity ran out on a John Riggins wrist shot from the slot. The Icepack’s top line was able to regain the two goal lead with a spinning drive from Brooks Willoughby-Ray and a rebound goal from Daniel Prazma. With multiple penalties plaguing the Icepack, they would still manage to kill off a 5-3 powerplay from USC soon after, with defenseman Tait Sawden putting his body on the line to block shots. Prazma would strike again with just 50 seconds left in the period off of a breakaway attempt, giving the Icepack a 4-1 lead into the third period.

USC was able to get a goal back just 11 seconds into the period from Riggins again during four on four play, due to penalties at the end of the second period. NC State was able to stay out of the box much more in the third, but an untimely penalty halfway through the period led to a Gamecocks power play goal, cutting the Icepack’s lead down to just one goal. NC State was able to hold the line in the end, even killing off another powerplay opportunity with less than five minutes left in the period, to end the game on top in a 4-3 victory. 

The Icepack have two home games this coming weekend, the first on Friday against Rider University, and on Saturday against future conference opponent,  University of Alabama's M1 team.