Icepack Sweeps Alabama Series with 7-4 Win

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – NC State defeated Alabama 7-4 on Friday to sweep its weekend road series. 

BOX SCORE | SKATER STATS

The game opened at a faster pace and featured more penalties than Thursday’s matchup, giving both teams multiple power play opportunities. The Icepack killed off a 5-on-3 stretch, but Alabama struck first with a power play goal. Less than 10 seconds later, Michael Ranaldi tied the game off assists from Aidan Raedy and Joey Gouveia, sending the teams into the first intermission equal at one. 

Jake Gifford scored early in the second period to give NC State the lead, but Alabama answered with a penalty-shot goal before capitalizing on another power play to go ahead 3-2. Holden Koufman netted his second goal of the series to even the score heading into the second intermission. 

The Icepack came out strong in the third period. Daniel Prazma scored an unassisted power play goal to regain the lead, and three minutes later, Austin Finch added another off a rebound to make it 5-3. Reece Johnson tallied back-to-back goals –  the first on a transition shot and the second on a 2-on-1 play with Nick Librizzi while Alabama was on the power play. The Tide added another goal late, bringing the final score to 7-4. 

The series marked a dominant showing for NC State, with 13 players recording points over the two games. Goaltender Pieter Bartelse made 33 saves on 37 shots. Johnson, Finch, and Koufman each scored twice, while four other players registered at least two points in the series.