Pack Sweeps Rider and Alabama, UNC Next

The Icepack add two more wins on the season this weekend,extending their record to 7-0, with a 5-3 win over Rider University and a 5-2 win over the University of Alabama.

With the first game of the back to back games, the Icepack grabbed a win over the Rider University Broncs on Friday. Rider opened the scoring halfway through the first period with a rebound goal in front of the net, even after the Icepack were maintaining almost all zone time throughout the first. NC State answered back quickly after with Joey Gouveia recording a goal on a great pass from Jake Gifford. Gouveia would then score again before the end of the first, now having six goals in six games on the season so far. The physicality picked up in the second period from both teams, but the Icepack would come out on top, with two goals from Nick Shook, with assists from Jake Lipani and Holden Koufman. RIder would make an attempt to turn the tide in the third period, even after Jake Gifford put up another goal for the Icepack just over halfway through the period. Rider would score twice on the powerplay with less than six minutes left in the game, but solid net-minding from Icepack’s Isacc Tawyer would help NC State hold the lead till the final whistle.

The second game of the weekend once again started with the Icepack down in the first, with two goals from Alabama halfway through the period. The sustained forecheck from Alabama and an inability for the Icepack to clear their own zone made for a very one sided first period. The Icepack came out for the second period looking much better, sustaining more possession in Alabama's end, which led to Holden Koufman scoring a quick wrap-around goal to put NC State on the board. From there the Icepack opened the scoring up, with Talon Langston’s first goal career NC State goal, coming just two minutes later, tying the game up 2-2. Just eleven seconds later, Jake Gifford would score, giving the Icepack the lead for the first time that night. NC State’s conditioning and stamina was evident in the third, as they had  more energy than Alabama in the closing twenty minutes, with Koufman scoring his second goal of the night on a tip-in and a powerplay goal from Reese Johnson. The Icepack would take the 5-2 win after scoring five unanswered goals in just two periods, solidifying their 7-0 record.
The Icepack continue their home stretch on Friday, October 11th against UNC-Chapel Hill at 8:15 P.M.