ALC D-I Recap: Owls Head South

(from an ALC release)

LEXINGTON, Va. -- The ALC had some great matchups this past weekend and some divisional standings took shape. Liberty took control in the North notching wins over divisional foes Pitt & West Virginia. The Owls of Temple got their season started with a 3 game road trip. The South featured Clemson taking down #3 and #13 in dominant fashion while the Hokies picked up two more wins.

Division I - North

Pittsburgh @ Liberty
This game started as expected: a defensive battle with both netminders playing well. The Flames got going in the second quarter and turned a 3-1 battle into an 8-3 halftime lead that ballooned to 11-3. No quit in Pitt though as they battled back to close within 11-7, but ultimately the Flames offense was too much en route to an 18-10 victory.

West Virginia @ Pittsburgh
The Mountaineers coming off a tough loss the day before went to work on Sunday and started out of the gates slowly, allowing Liberty to get to an 8-2 halftime lead. However, they surged back in the third quarter. The Flames defense snuffed out any hopes for a comeback, however, finishing with a 14-6 victory.

Temple @ South Florida, Florida, Central Florida
The Owls went on the road and took on three teams in three days -- no small feat. On Friday, they cruised to an 18-10 victory over South Florida. On Saturday, they were taking on No. 9 Florida, where they let the Gators jump out to a 4-0 lead and could never recover. Temple battled, but came up short falling, 11-5. On Sunday, the Owls snuck by UCF, 11-10. A 2-1 road trip isn’t a bad way to start the season.

Division I - South

Clemson @ Georgia
The Clemson offense must have drank an extra Red Bull before this game as they were shot of a cannon en route to an eight goal first quarter. There was a little back-and-forth, but with a 16-7 margin heading into the fourth quarter the Tigers were sitting pretty. The Dawgs mounted a fourth-quarter charge, but were unable to keep up with the Big Cats. Clemson won 18-12, led in net by Calvin Annulis (9 saves, 3 GA) and on offense by Garrett Brennan (5g, 1a) and William Ciccarelli (4g).

Georgia Tech @ Clemson
Both teams had Friday night matchups that they won in convincing fashion, and Saturday was shaping up to be a game. The Tigers used their sleek hunting skils to pick apart the Yellow Jackets defense as they took home a 5-3 first quarter lead and 8-6 halftime lead. The second half would see a surge from the Tigers as they ran away with this game, 15-8. Tigers were lead in goal by Danny Laible (16 saves, 8 GA) and on offense again by Brennan (4g, 1a) and Sean Tariche (4g, 2a).

West Virginia @ Virginia Tech
In 2020 when these teams met West Virginia led late and the Hokies had to stage a comeback to squeak that game out. There would be no such problem this time as the Hokies surged to a nine-goal first quarter and a 9-2 lead. The Mountaineers showed no quit and battled, but the Hokies were too much for them. Virginia Tech was lead in goal by Will Eckert (7 saves, 5 GA) and on offense by Aidan Smith (4g, 3a) and Jared Cole (4g, 1a).

Pittsburgh @ Virginia Tech
These two teams both faced off on Saturday and Pitt was looking to avenge an 18-10 loss to the Flames. However, the Hokies would have none of it, surging to an 8-1 first quarter lead and 13-3 halftime. The Panthers never gave up and mounted a comeback, but too little too late, falling to Virginia Tech, 16-9. The Hokies were lead at the faceoff dot by Daniel Gaffney (13-for-15, 2a) and in cage by Eckert (8 saves, 3 GA).

Tennessee @ Auburn
Tennessee traveled to Auburn and had a battle on their hands. After the first quarter, the Vols were up 3-2, but the Tigers would not be subdued as they had strong second and third quarters leading, 15-6, going into the fourth quarter. However, Tennessee mounted a furious comeback scoring five unanswered goals in the fourth, but fell, 15-11.