The University of Kentucky’s men’s hockey team delivered a commanding 5-2 victory over North Carolina on Friday night at Iceland Sports Complex, showcasing the offensive depth that has become their calling card early in the ACHA season. Five different Wildcats found the back of the net while goaltender Riley Allen stood tall between the pipes, turning aside 36 of 38 shots for a stellar .947 save percentage.
Nick Delaney led Kentucky’s balanced attack with a goal and an assist, capping off a dominant performance that saw the Wildcats pepper North Carolina netminder Ander Andreev with 50 shots on goal. Jake Laube, Gabriel Rodriguez, Eli Bailey, and Nate James each contributed goals in the offensive barrage, while Preston Hazelton, Ty Patefield, Marc L’heureux, and Anthony Santangelo added assists to spread the scoring wealth across multiple lines.
Despite facing constant pressure, North Carolina managed to find the scoresheet twice through Jack Sangster and Florian Zajic, with Daniel Kauber, Kevin Ma, and Nicholas Ansbacher each recording assists. However, Andreev faced a relentless Kentucky attack and finished the night allowing four goals on 46 saves for a .920 save percentage, unable to match Allen’s exceptional performance at the other end of the ice.
The victory gives Kentucky momentum as they continue their ACHA campaign, having now defeated North Carolina in back-to-back meetings after a 4-2 win just one day prior. The Wildcats’ ability to generate offense from throughout their lineup while receiving outstanding goaltending suggests they could be a formidable force as the season progresses.
