October 21, 2023

Becca Friedman 

The Gators returned to the ice this Friday after a disappointing weekend away in South Carolina last week. The Gators unfortunately left South Carolina empty-handed, going 0-2 after two extremely competitive, one-goal-deficit games. Coach Frank Pasquale said in a pre-game interview that he felt the team would come out stronger after their performance in South Carolina, and the Gators did just that. 

Neither the Gators nor the Knights struggled to find the back of the net, especially early on. The Gators came out of the first period leading 4-3. Lampinen continued his point streak scoring the first two for the Gators, along with goals from Shepard (#17) and Katz (#3). 

The Gator goals kept coming in during the second period, but they were not alone on the scoreboard. The Knights came back with three additional goals in the second, to end the period with a score of 6-6. 

Neither team scored in the third period, leaving the score at 6-6 going into overtime. The Gators walked away with a well-earned victory over the Knights with an OT goal scored by Noah Horwitz (#27), his second of the night. 

One Down, One to Go

The Gators will face the Knights again this Saturday afternoon at @4:00 pm at the Orlando Ice Den Olympic Rink. The Knights have proven to be an extremely offensive team, hammering the puck at the goal every chance they get. 

For the Gators to get another win today, they need to focus on maintaining their defensive shape in front of the goal, for the Knights were left unmarked in front of the blue paint one too many times. The Gators also need to focus on tightening their position in the neutral zone to avoid more breakaway opportunities for the Knights, especially for Matthew Scribner (#19).  

The Gators need to capitalize on their power play opportunities. Lampinen got a short-handed goal, but the team could not score on any of their five-man advantage’s. 

The two Florida teams were head-to-head the entirety of the game, up until the final minutes of extended time. The Gators have now jumped ahead of the Knights in the standings, taking their spot at #3 in the division. With a win under their belt, the Gators need to carry this momentum into their game today to snag their second win against the Knights.