Icepack Top Hokies On The Road 3-2

(Vinton, VA) - The NC State Icepack picked up their second of the season with a 3-2 victory on the road against the Virginia Tech Hokies in their first game. 

The Icepack started hot out the gate, getting lots of pucks to the net, resulting in Junior Austin Finch recording his first goal of the season. Following that goal, NC State had trouble staying out of the box, leading to two Virginia Tech power play goals, both coming from Hokies captain Gavin Peduzzi. Quickly after the second power play goal from the Hokies, The Icepack’s Nick Shook was able to turn the tables with an unassisted power play goal of his own, tying the game 2-2. Less than 30 seconds after Shook's goal, Freshman defenseman Tait Sawden gave the Icepack the lead once again with a powerful shot from the blue line, recording his first goal of the season off a feed from Freshmen, Brayden Strong.

The second period was a back and forth battle through the whole twenty minutes, with lots of end to end drives from both the Icepack and the Hokies. Peduzzi once again showed his prowess on the powerplay, putting solid shots on net that Icepack Goaltender Isacc Tawyer held his ground against. NC State's top line of Zach Herman, Brooks Willoughby-Ray, and Daniel Prazma had multiple good looks throughout the period as well, but Goaltender Ian Kee backstopped the Hokies to a scoreless second period from both teams.

The third period picked up right where the second period left off, with lots of back and forth action and good shots from both teams, with both goaltenders showing off their skills in high danger saves. However, as the ice quality deteriorated throughout the game, players from both sides had trouble staying on their feet in the third. As the game grew to a close, the Hokies would pull their goaltender and unload shots on the net, trying to tie the game in the final minutes. Even with this onslaught, Tawyer stood tall, blocking all shots that came his way, backstopping the Ice Pack to a 3-2 victory.  Tawyer turned aside 33 shots on the night, while Kee stopped 36 for the Hokies.

The Icepack stay on the road next week, hoping to keep the win streak alive going into back to back road games against Rowan University next Friday and Saturday.