Raleigh, N.C. — After running through last weekend’s three-game table with wins over Georgetown, Stevenson and Drexel, the University of Delaware Division 2 men’s hockey team lost both halves of a weekend series against North Carolina State, falling 3-1 on Friday (Jan. 17) and 11-4 on Saturday (Jan. 18).
Friday, Jan. 17 — NC State 3, Delaware 1
Delaware forward Devin LeBlanc opened the scoring with his 11th seasonal goal six minutes into the second period, only for the Ice Pack to control the remainder of the game. Parker Szarek tied the game for NC State not even three minutes later off a Chris Solomon assist, and Garrett Auriene lifted the Ice Pack to a 2-1 lead — also from a Solomon feed — at 13:18.
Down one in the third period, the Blue Hens saw their deficit increase to two after a Ryan Johnson high-sticking minor at 5:20 led to a power play goal from the Ice Pack’s Devin Halko 16 seconds into the man advantage.
Josh Cannon recorded 21 saves on 22 shots in victory for NC State. Stephen Odgers saved 38 of 41 shots faced in defeat.
Saturday, Jan. 18 — NC State 11, Delaware 4
The Blue Hens and the Ice Pack traded goals through the first 16 minutes — Solomon and Ryan Kinney for NC State, Tyler Swift and Will Jowett for Delaware. In the final minute of the first period, NC State commenced a 4-0 run to begin edging clear. Solomon assisted on goals from Halko and Eric Todd to give the Ice Pack a 4-2 intermission lead, and goals from Matt Miller and Solomon extended their advantage to 6-2 with 9:05 left in the second.
Delaware tried to mount a rally late in the second period, and goals from Jowett — his second — and Cal Raymore brought them back within two at the intermission. NC State responded with a five-goal third period to seal their series sweep. Todd capped his hat trick with goals at 4:35 and 9:02, Miller scored his second with seven minutes left, and Alex Katz and Colby Pederson sealed the Ice Pack’s win with goals in the final 72 seconds.
Griffin Hunt won in net for NC State with 28 saves on 32 shots, while Odgers took the loss despite recording 37 saves. Andrew Marciniak missed the game for Delaware due to illness.
Only five games remain in the Blue Hens’ regular season: On Friday (Jan. 24), they host Kutztown at Gold Arena, and on Saturday (Jan. 25), they take on Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey rival Rowan at Fred Rust Arena.
