North Carolina club hockey lost five of their last seven in the regular season including a 4-1 decision to N.C. State Icepack at the Lenovo Center, Raleigh, in the Governor’s Cup. Andrew Smith had the UNC goal. Attendance was 8,200. UNC won the Cup in 2023 but has lost the last two. Carolina’s record was 13-9-2-0.
Two nights earlier, UNC topped State 3-2 in OT on goals by Smith (his first of season), Zukowski, Kauber (game-winner) in Morrisville after losing two home games to UNCW Seahawks 5-1(Kauber goal) and 4-3 (Gilligan, Gingris, Kotseos goals) in Hillsborough. Carolina beat Roger Williams 6-3 at home after losing twice to Va. Tech. Ma, Zukowski, Mongrel, Smith, Kauber, Ansbacher netted goals against RW. A third game against VT was canceled by winter weather.
Playoff Hockey
UNC hockey, the #5 seed, downed #4 UNC Wilmington 3-0 (O’Shaughnessy, Kotseos, Gilligan goals) and lost 4-1 (Kauber goal) to top-seeded Penn State in the ACC-HL premier league playoffs in Winston-Salem. It was the first shutout by UNC goalie Lucas Brown (26 saves).
Penn State defeated Va. Tech 5-2 for the championship after VT eliminated #2 NC State 6-2 in the semis.
UNC will be the 12 seed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) SE regionals Feb. 21-23 in Evansville, IN.
