Hokies Set for Their First Road Trip of the Season

By: Chris Pierce

BLACKSBURG, Va – The Virginia Tech Hokies look to end the month of September on a high note as they travel down south for a two-game set against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks this weekend.

The Hokies Early Strides…

Virginia Tech comes into this weekend off the heels of a gritty 7-4 win over High Point University last Friday night. It was a back-and-forth contest between the two squads until the third period, which saw the Hokies pull away for their second win of the season. Both Rocco Salvato and Dom Fantozzi scored two goals each, while rookie Kam Khazai continued to etch his name in the scorebook with another multi-point game.  

“The team and season have been great so far,” said Khazai following the win against the Panthers. “I think the whole team is well connected as it was easy to make friends with all of them. I am having a lot of fun already.”

Khazai, a freshman from Mclean, Virginia, continues to provide points on the board for the Hokies during his stellar rookie campaign. Against the Panthers, Khazai doubled his season point total to six after scoring a goal and providing two assists in the win. So far in three games played, Khazai leads the team in points and assists, along with two goals scored.

Moreover, it was an unforgettable night for forward Dominic Fantozzi, as Friday night's two-goal breakout performance may have ignited a spark that was much needed for the junior.

“I thought my line had been playing well in the first three games,” said Fantozzi. “We kept creating chances but couldn’t finish and I think it really clicked on Friday. As long as we keep playing together, we will continue to get better together.”

The team now looks forward to their first road trip of the season when they head down south to Wilmington to take on the UNCW Seahawks.

Meet the Opponent: UNCW

The Seahawks (5-2) come into this matchup hotter than any team in the ACCHL after traveling to upstate New York for a three-game road trip. The team won two games, outscoring their opponents 20-7, including a 15-goal performance against St. John’s Fisher last Friday.

The first month of the season has been an offensive explosion for UNC Wilmington as their front attack has been hard to stop. In the seven games played so far, the Seahawks are averaging 6.86 goals per game. Additionally, the offense has produced five or more goals in more than half of those games, as well as scoring ten or more goals twice in that span.  

Previous History

The two teams previously played last season during the ACCHL fall tournament in Springfield, Virginia, which saw the Hokies defeat the Seahawks 6-5 in overtime. Senior forward Nick Messuro scored the game-winner 14 seconds into overtime which capped off the Hokies' first division win of the year. Gavin Peduzzi, who is back this year, scored two goals in the win as well.

The Matchup

Looking ahead to this weekend, this matchup will mark the beginning of ACC M2 Premier Atlantic Coast play for both teams. Last season, the Hokies finished fifth in the league's standings (1-3-1), just above the Seahawks who finished last (0-5-1). Both teams are looking to rebound this season in hopes of advancing in the playoffs come February, potentially having a chance to win the Admiral’s Cup.

“[I am] looking forward to spending a lot of time together as a team, plus it feels just as important to get the job done,” spoke Rocco Salvato, captain of the Hokies. 

Salvato was chosen as the Hokies captain earlier this month after leading the way as a junior last year. The Senior has done a well-rounded job on and off the ice, building chemistry between the players which in return has resulted in success on the ice. Against the Seahawks, he hopes that the team continues to compete at a high level while still having fun while on the road.

Game Information

Both games this weekend will be played at the Polar Icehouse in Wilmington, NC. Puck drop on Friday is at 10 p.m. and on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Game stream and broadcast are TBD.