Takeaways from the South Carolina Weekend

By Sarah Stephens

The North Carolina Tar Heels returned to Truist Field this past weekend, home of the MiLB’s Charlotte Knights, as one of 12 college hockey teams invited to the 704 Outdoor Faceoff. It marked UNC’s second straight year playing outdoors in Charlotte.

Last season, North Carolina opened 2025 with a loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies on the same field. This year, they faced the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in another outdoor matchup.

The Tar Heels entered the game 4-8-1 in its first season competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 level. The Gamecocks, still in Division II, sat at a 7-3-1 record. 

Prior to the game, former Carolina Panthers safety – and UNC alumnus (’13) – Tre Boston performed the ceremonial puck drop.

After a dry first period, The Cocks team captain scored on the powerplay at the beginning of the second period. He sunk the puck into the back right corner of North Carolina’s wide-open goal as North Carolina goalie Lucas Brown faced the other direction. North Carolina’s #26 Will Hilton answered with a similar play of his own – scoring on the power play less than a minute after USC.

A minute later, South Carolina responded again to take a 2-1 lead.

UNC tied it at 2-2 with a goal from #9 Nic Gingras, but the Gamecocks answered quickly after another defensive breakdown by the Tar Heels.

North Carolina struck first in the third period to tie the game 3-3, but mistakes and too many offensive chances for South Carolina continued to plague the Tar Heels throughout the night, going into overtime. South Carolina took advantage of a 2-on-1 rush that Brown and the defense couldn’t counter.

UNC had a chance to bounce back in the Saturday rematch, but a four-goal third period from the Gamecocks put the game out of reach in a 7-4 loss. The Tar Heels return to the Orange County Sportsplex on Nov. 22 to face George Mason.

The Tar Heels will return to a grander stage on Nov. 23, facing the NC State IcePack at the Lenovo Center in the 2025 Governor’s Cup.