Week 12 was full of weekend sweeps, outdoor games, and unfavorable ice conditions as many teams wrapped up their fall semester schedules.
Game of the Week: University of Alabama (D3) at Kennesaw State University (D3)
The Kennesaw State University Owls improved to 8-3-0 (6-2-0) on the season with a 3-1 win and a forfeit win against the University of Alabama Frozen Tide.
The Owls outshot the Frozen Tide 46-30 in the lone matchup. Owl goaltender Connor Lakly (29) stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in net.
Sebastian Zamborsky (90), Bradley Burton (14), and Christopher Scott (48) scored goals during the win. Zamborsky leads the Owls in scoring this season with 24 points, which puts him fifth in Division 3 scoring.
Ryan Lobdell (18) was the only player on the Frozen Tide to hit the back of the net.
The Frozen Tide forfeited the second game of the series initially scheduled for Saturday, allowing Kennesaw State to add two more critical points in the standings.
University of Tennessee (D1) vs. University of South Carolina (D1)
The University of Tennessee Ice Vols surpassed the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the College Hockey South Division 1 rankings, moving into the number two spot following their weekend sweep.
Game one was a back-and-forth battle that resulted in a 5-4 victory for the Ice Vols.
Despite two goals and two assists from Jake Puskar (8), the Gamecocks could not hold off the Tennessee offense in the third period. Bryce Cooper (43) scored the game-winning goal, his first of the season, on the powerplay for the Ice Vols.
The Ice Vols carried this momentum into game two, shutting out the Gamecocks 6-0.
Connor Benoit (4) and Tyler Iles (3) scored two goals to lead the Tennessee offense.
The Gamecocks, playing in their third matchup in as many games, could not generate any offense.
Goaltender Lincoln Simons (32) is credited with the shutout with 28 saves.
Florida Atlantic University (D2) at University of Central Florida (D2)
Florida Atlantic University’s win streak has reached double digits with their series sweep over the University of Central Florida. Game one was an 8-2 blowout, while game two’s victory was 4-3.
Hunter Litman (24) and Jake Murphy (22) each scored two goals in game one.
The Owls held the Knights off the scoreboard for the first two periods. Goaltender Rocco Bruno (1) had a save percentage of .942 for the game.
After the Owls took a 2-0 lead in the first, game two was looking like it would follow the same storyline.
However, the Knights found some momentum in the second with back-to-back goals. Jacob Graziotti (24) and Joshua Shimony (14) scored within 18 seconds of each other to tie the game.
Ultimately, Daniel Tovb (17) scored the game-winner for the Owls midway through the third to secure the win.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (D2) at University of South Florida (D2)
The University of South Florida Ice Bulls swept their weekend series against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Ice Eagles. Game one resulted in a 4-3 victory, while game two ended 3-1.
The opening frame was full of action, with both teams scoring two goals. Billy Callahan (14), who leads the Ice Eagles in scoring with five goals and nine assists in 16 games, scored both of the Ice Eagles’ goals.
Neither team hit the back of the net in the second period.
The Ice Bulls scored twice more in the third to secure the win. Aaron Cholewa (27) scored the game-winning goal midway through the period.
Game two was highlighted by a hat-trick by Grant Dietz (17).
Dietz has 44 points on the season and has picked up at least a point in every game this season. Dietz has played to a goal-per-game and assist-per-game pace through 18 games.
Zackary Leniek (31) stopped 45 of the 46 shots he faced for the game.
Battle at the Ballpark:
Vanderbilt University (D2) vs. Duke University (ACHA)
The matchup between the Vanderbilt University Commodores and the Duke University Blue Devils was canceled due to unfavorable ice conditions.
The Commodores will open their spring semester with a two-game series at Georgia Tech on Jan. 10-11.
University of South Carolina (D1) vs. North Carolina State University (ACHA)
The University of South Carolina Gamecocks got revenge on the North Carolina State University Ice Pack, the team that had edged them out earlier in the season. The Gamecocks wore special pinstripe baseball-inspired jerseys due to the game being played at Truist Field, a minor league baseball stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Despite John Riggins (25) opening the scoring for the Gamecocks, South Carolina headed into the locker room trailing 2-1 after the first. Riggins had four points during the game, which put him at 33 points in the season.
From that point forward, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ offense was dominant.
Marco Pineda (9) and Brendan Flaherty (3) scored short-handed goals as a part of five unanswered South Carolina goals. Goaltender Tyler Temoyan (33) shut the door after the first period, and the Gamecocks secured a memorable victory outdoors.
The Gamecocks are back in action Friday, Dec. 6, as they host Coastal Carolina University at Flight Adventure Park. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 30-school, 50-team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.