The Clemson club ice hockey team split its series against Vanderbilt last weekend, which marked the team’s final divisional matchup of the regular season. The Tigers dropped their first game 6-5 in overtime but bounced back the next day to defeat the Commodores 3-2, also in overtime.
Ahead of the College Hockey South Division II playoffs later this month, securing a win over Vanderbilt was essential to building Clemson’s confidence and allowed the Tigers another opportunity to prove their value — a luxury they lost during their fall semester hiatus.
“This weekend was a solid weekend for us,” forward Sully Kopf told The Tiger. “Vandy played physically, and it made it tough to play against (them). Although we came out pretty slow in both games at the start, we found a way to pick up our game, play our brand of hockey and start some comebacks.”
Vanderbilt took a quick lead in Friday night’s game, netting its first goal less than five minutes into the contest. Clemson’s Ethan Callahan evened the score two minutes later, but the Commodores collected two power-play goals before the end of the first to establish a 3-1 lead.
Their lead increased to 4-1 just over two minutes into the second period, but Kopf, with help from Mike McKeon, revived Clemson’s offense with a power-play goal two minutes later. Though the Commodores reinstated their three-goal lead just 14 seconds after Kopf’s tally, his goal proved to be the necessary spark the Tigers needed to power through the rest of the game.
With renewed momentum, William van Sicklin netted another power-play goal for Clemson, assisted by Kopf, and Patrick O’Brien tucked in a pass from Alex Wallace to bring the Tigers within one at the end of the second period.
Halfway through the third period, Clemson’s Will Ralsten fired the shot straight into the back of the net to tie the contest at 5-5, but the goal was waved off when the net was deemed off its moorings. Discouraged but not finished, the Tigers were more determined than ever to tie — and potentially win — the contest.
And with 6:43 left in regulation, that determination manifested in the form of Kopf’s second power-play goal of the night. Van Sicklin fed Kopf a cross-ice pass, which the forward did not hesitate to bury to keep the Tigers in the game.
Despite Clemson’s effort, Vanderbilt’s John Torinus netted the game-winner just 1:58 into the five-minute overtime period.
The following day told a different story.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, but Reese Popkin struck first on behalf of the Commodores less than three minutes into the second, followed by Torinus — short-handed — a minute later to give Vanderbilt a 2-0 lead.
However, Clemson quickly remedied the deficit with two power-play goals: Van Sicklin netted the first with help from Ronan Bryant, and Callahan tipped in Cam Iacobelli’s shot for the second.
Much like the first period, neither team saw the back of the net in the third and the game, once again, required overtime. Only this time, the Tigers came out on top.
With 2:07 remaining in the five-minute overtime period, Callahan notched his seventh goal of the season — and third of the weekend — with help from Kopf to send Clemson home with a win.
“I’m really proud of the guys for not giving up and how we kept on battling even with a few guys hurt,” Kopf added. “Going into the last weekend of the season, and then playoffs, I think we just need to stick to our game. Nothing will be easy, but I think if we play a fast and physical style, we will be just fine and will have a great chance to take home some hardware in Florida.”
The Tigers are back in action next weekend at home against the College of Charleston.
