Jake Laube delivered a two-goal performance to lead the University of Kentucky to a 4-2 victory over North Carolina at Iceland Sports Complex on Saturday, as the Wildcats improved to 2-0 to start their ACHA campaign. The junior forward, who entered the contest with one goal in Kentucky’s season opener, doubled his season tally while adding four penalty minutes in a physical affair that saw 20 total penalty minutes assessed between both teams.
Kentucky struck for four different goal scorers, with Gabriel Rodriguez, Charlie Chinian and Laube finding the back of the net behind North Carolina goaltender Ander Andreev, who made 28 saves on 31 shots. The Wildcats controlled the pace throughout, outshooting the Tar Heels 31-28 while getting contributions from five different players on the scoresheet. Ty Patefield, Nick Delaney, Macklin Yelle and Marc L’heureux each registered assists in the balanced offensive attack.
North Carolina’s Andrew Smith matched Laube’s output with two goals of his own, supported by an assist from Patrick O’shaughnessy, but the Tar Heels couldn’t generate enough sustained pressure to overcome Kentucky’s early advantage. The loss drops North Carolina to 0-2 on the young season after falling 5-2 to these same Wildcats just one day earlier.
Kentucky goaltender Nick Mutschler was steady between the pipes, turning aside 26 of 28 shots for a .929 save percentage in his second consecutive victory. The Wildcats have now outscored North Carolina 9-4 over their back-to-back meetings to open the 2025 ACHA season, establishing early momentum in what promises to be a competitive conference race.
