By Abby Doperak · KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Ice Vols split their weekend series against the Alabama Frozen Tide, winning 8-4 on Friday before falling 5-3 on Sun…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Ice Vols split their weekend series against the Alabama Frozen Tide, winning 8-4 on Friday before falling 5-3 on Sunday.
Tennessee entered the weekend undefeated at 4-0 after sweeping Auburn and Ole Miss. The Ice Vols faced a tougher challenge against Alabama, which competes in the ACHA DI, or M1, while Tennessee competes in M2.
The weekend began Friday night at Cool Sports, where Tennessee set the pace early. Ice Vols forward Matt Pavek scored less than two minutes into the opening period to give Tennessee a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Brett Strick extended the advantage to 2-0.
Midway through the first period, Tennessee starting goalie Patrick Green allowed Alabama to score, cutting the lead to 2-1. Strick responded with his second goal of the night, giving the Ice Vols a 3-1 advantage heading into the second period.
Tennessee carried its momentum into the second period. Stan Bright scored four minutes into the period, followed shortly by Jacob Kulas, who used his speed to extend the lead to 5-1.
The Ice Vols continued their offensive push when Tyler Rose scored two minutes later, increasing Tennessee’s lead to 6-1.
With Tennessee leading by five goals, Alabama pulled starting goalie Mackie Donner and replaced him with Ayden Tombly.
Tombly provided a tougher challenge for the Ice Vols as Alabama found its rhythm, scoring twice before the end of the second period to cut Tennessee’s lead to 6-3.
The final period opened both teams trading time between the offensive and defensive zones. Midway through the period, Pavek found his second goal of the night. Dylan Updike followed with another goal, extending the lead to 8-3.
Alabama scored once more before the final buzzer, but Tennessee secured a 8-4 victory.
“It is a big rivalry for us,” Strick said. “We knew we needed to play good for the big weekend ahead.”
The rivalry took on added significance between games. Tennessee’s football team defeated Alabama 26-10 at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, while Tennessee’s Division III hockey team swept Alabama’s Division III team, raising the stakes for the Ice Vols’ series finale.
Sunday’s game started slowly before the action picked up halfway through the opening period when Tennessee earned a power play. More than a minute into the advantage, Alabama scored twice in a span of 20 seconds to take a 2-0 lead.
Pavek capitalized on the following Tennessee power play, putting the Ice Vols on the board and cutting the deficit to 2-1.
After beginning the second period shorthanded, Tennessee earned another power play. Kulas capitalized to tie the game at 2-2. Two minutes after, Alabama regained the lead, making it 3-2.
Ice Vol captain Marius Angelin responded quickly to tie the game at 3-3. Despite Tennessee outshooting Alabama during the period, the Froze Tide scored again to take a 4-3 lead into the third period.
Alabama added another goal in the final period to extend its lead to 5-3. Goalie Perry Jacobs turned away Tennessee’s remaining shot attempts to preserve the victory and hand the Ice Vols their first loss of the season.
Despite the loss, several Tennessee players delivered strong performances throughout the weekend. Mitchell Spranklin finished with five assists, while Pavek recorded three goals and two assists. Strick added two goals and two assists.
The Ice Vols now head into their next matchup on the road against South Carolina with a 5-1 record.