NCRHA Division III Matchup of the Week

Kennesaw State University vs. UT Chattanooga

Sunday, January 15 – 1:00pm

Season Head to Head prior to this weekend: 0-0, teams have not yet met this season

Season Head to Head after this weekend: UT Chattanooga leads season series 1-0 (7-6 win this weekend)

It was a tough weekend for both Kennesaw and UT Chattanooga, both heading into their final game of the weekend with only 1 win (Kennesaw) and 1 overtime loss (UT Chattanooga) on the weekend. Both teams had faced both Tampa squads and other D3 opponents like Florida and Virginia Tech, or Tampa’s D2 team twice, in Kennesaw’s case.

The second to last game of the weekend was a great one, the best game of the weekend for both teams. It was a back and forth battle that went all the way from the first goal being scored 2:13 into the game, all the way until 4 seconds left in the game when the final goal was scored. UTC got on the board first, answered just 2 minutes later by KSU. Each team would add 2 more goals in the first period, taking a 3-3 tie into the 1^st intermission. The 2^nd period slowed down quite a bit, with KSU getting their first lead of the game 3:11 into the period on a goal by Colin Comiskey, his 3^rd of 4 goals in the game. UTC’s Dylan Guy scored about 6 minutes later, his 2^nd of his 3 goals in the game. Once again, the score was tied heading into the 2^nd intermission. UTC scored 2 early in the 3^rd and held that 2 goal lead until the last minute of play when KSU’s Colin Comiskey scored his 4^th goal, to bring it within 1. UTC scored (Dylan Guy again) just 16 seconds later to make it 7-5. With 4 seconds left KSU’s Cameron Bradach scored and it would end a 7-6 win for UT Chattanooga. Guy and Comiskey were the standouts in the game, not to mention KSU’s James Bailey who had 3 assists in the game and UTC’s Harris Smidt who had 1 goal and 1 assist. Both team’s goaltenders were busy throughout, both facing over 30 shots in the game.

The win puts UT Chattanooga in 3^rd place on the season, just 1 point ahead of Kennesaw State. The teams will likely meet again very soon!

NCRHA Cross-Divisional Matchup of the Week

University of Tampa (D2) vs. Virginia Tech (D3)

Saturday January 14 – 9:00pm

Season Head to Head prior to this weekend: Tampa leads season series 1-0 (9-6 win on October 23)

Season Head to Head after this weekend: Tampa leads season series 2-0 (9-6 win on October 23 and 8-5 win this weekend)

The University of Tampa Spartans extend their unbeaten streak from 5 to 10 games this weekend, outscoring their opponents 99-33. This weekend they got their first taste of the University of Florida, who Tampa defeated 5-3. This would prove to be their closest game of the weekend, closest game of the season actually.

Virginia Tech went 3-2 on the weekend, defeating Tampa’s AA squad twice and also UT Chattanooga. The 2 losses were against Tampa (8-5) and University of Florida (7-5).

As we’ve seen in a lot of the close games this past weekend, both teams would trade 1^st period goals and enter the 1^st intermission tied, this time with 2 goals apiece. The 2^nd period was not much different, with Tampa scoring 1:16 in, followed by 2 Virginia Tech goals and later by a Tampa goal to make it 4-4 at the end of 2. 4 3^rd period goals by Tampa to Virginia Tech’s 1 proved to be the difference. Tampa’s Demitri Samarkos finished the game with 2 goals and 2 assists, while teammates Nicholas Tartaglia and Nathan Duhaime finished with 3 points each. Virginia Tech’s William McGarrigle led the team with 1 goal and 1 assist. Virginia Tech outshot Tampa 29 to 24 in the battle.

Bonus Matchup of the Week

University of Tampa (D2) vs. University of Florida (D3)

Sunday January 15 - 2:00pm

Season Head to Head prior to this weekend: 0-0, teams have not yet met this season

Season Head to Head after this weekend: Tampa leads season series 1-0 (7-5 win this weekend)

Florida, in their first weekend of the season, went 4-1, defeating all of their Division 3 opponents, as well as Tampa’s AA squad.

In this featured matchup, Tampa got on the board early, with 2 goals in the first 2 minutes of the game. The teams traded goals the rest of the 1^st period (2 by Florida, 1 by Tampa), and Tampa took a 3-2 lead into the 1^st intermission. In the 2^nd, it was a lone Florida goal that tied the game up at 3. Florida was outshooting Tampa 15-11 after 2 periods. In the 3^rd period, it was the other way around, as Tampa outshot Florida 10-6 and scored the only goals of the 3^rd period, 2 of them, to take a 5-3 lead and defend that lead for the last 5 minutes of the game for the win. Tampa’s Derrick Watson led the team with 1 goal (the game-winner) and 1 assist, but 6 other teammates got on the board as well. Florida had goals from 3 different players as well. On both sides, a real team effort.