Macy Linder
On Nov. 18, the University of Georgia Ice Dawgs traveled to South Carolina to face off against the Clemson Tigers and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
Georgia vs. Clemson
In the first game of the weekend the Ice Dawgs defeated the Tigers 5-4.
Last season the Ice Dawgs defeated the Tigers 5-0 at the Classic Center Foundry Pavilion in Athens, Georgia.
The first period was a relentless face off of the two teams with multiple scoring attempts. Senior goalie Nick Newbold had several solid saves against the Tigers’ offense.
The Ice Dawgs asserted their authority by scoring a goal in the middle of the first by junior defenseman Lleyton Pool. Soon another goal was scored by freshman forward Declan Conway on an Ice Dawgs power play.
At the end of the first, the Ice Dawgs led the Tigers 2-0.
Coming out in the second the Ice dawgs seemed like an unwavering force, but a shift in momentum led the Tigers to score two consecutive goals tying the game 2-2.
Tensions were high for the Ice dawgs coming into the third period with a tied game.
The Georgia defense was determined to keep the Tigers at bay with more urgent saves by Newbold.
The Ice Dawgs’ offense came alive in the second half of the third period with two goals being scored, one by senior forward Dylan Spicer and the other by junior forward Josh Mesaros.
The Tigers did not waste time in answering the Ice Dawgs’ goal with one of their own, but the Ice Dawgs’ offense proved to be the superior force driving the game with a goal answering the Tigers by junior forward David Eberly.
With a few seconds left to spare in the period, the Tigers scored their fourth and final goal of the game bringing the final of the matchup 5-4.
Georgia vs. Coastal Carolina
In the second and final game of the weekend the Ice Dawgs defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 6-2.
Last season, the Ice Dawgs defeated Coastal Carolina 5-3 at Atkins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia.
The first period was a slow start for the Ice Dawgs, but came alive on offense with 2 goals being scored.
The first goal by the Ice Dawgs was by senior forward Matthew Bigda, and adding to that was Conway.
At the end of the first, the Ice Dawgs lead the Chanticleers 2-0.
The second period brought both the Ice Dawgs and the Chanticleers a challenge, but the Ice Dawgs showed their dominance in this matchup by adding three more goals.
The first goal was scored by junior forward Case Santa Maria on an Ice Dawgs power play. The second of the period goes to junior defenseman Zach Puma and the final goal to top of the second period was scored by Eberly.
During the second, the Chanticleers managed a goal, taking the score at the end of the period 5-1.
The final period was slow for both teams with only 1 goal being scored by both.
Coastal Carolina scored their second and final goal of the night in the first half of the period.
The final goal scored by the Ice Dawgs was by junior defenseman Lleyton Poole, putting a “cherry on top” of two sweet victories the Ice Dawgs claimed in the weekend.
This week the Ice Dawgs will face off against the Kennesaw State Owls for the second time this season on Dec. 1 in Athens, Georgia. On Dec. 2, Georgia will face off against the Clemson tigers and on Dec. 4 Georgia will face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers again but this time on their home turf.
