Tar Heels comeback falls short in 6-4 loss to Virginia

By Leyla Bonilla-Forgacs

HILLSBOROUGH – The Tar Heels fell 6-4 against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Sept. 12 following a 9-0 shutout loss to the Liberty University Flames the night before. 

The Heels entered the third home game of the season undefeated inside Orange County Sportsplex, after clinching two wins against the UNC Charlotte 49ers last weekend. The team hoped to use its home-ice advantage to keep the streak alive against Virginia Tech.

The Hokies began the game by securing a 2-0 lead in the first period until junior Owen Kenny put the Tar Heels on the board in the last three minutes. The momentum from the goal was short-lived, however, with the Hokies scoring less than a minute later to enter the first intermission with a 3-1 lead.

The second period again showed continuous action as the Hokies registered two goals, and the lone Tar Heel goal scored by senior Will Smith. The Heels would aim to erase a 5-2 deficit going into the final 20 minutes of regulation. 

The North Carolina Ice Hockey Team came back out onto the ice 15 minutes later, and it was as if the energy had shifted. 

 After a 15-minute stalemate to begin the third, freshman Jake Gelman and Ethan Balamucki scored consecutive goals in under a minute to close the lead at 5-4, sparking hopes of a Tar Heel comeback. The team pulled sophomore goaltender Joseph Ambrosio for the extra attacker, however, the Hokies capitalized on the empty net to secure their 6-4 victory.

“We came together as a team and almost made a push to win, but unfortunately it didn’t end up the way we wanted,” Gelman said.

The Tar Heels will face the University of Kentucky Wildcats at home on Sept. 18 and 19. Having lost to Kentucky in consecutive away games last season, Tar Heel senior Will Smith believes home-ice could give UNC an edge. 

“I think we got them this year. Definitely [have] some bad blood in the mouth from last year, so I think the boys will be ready,” Smith said.

The Tar Heels look towards next week’s rematch against the Wildcats in hopes of ending their losing streak.

“I think the new guys can feel in the locker room too that it’s definitely a game you want to win,” Smith said..