Written by: Mickey Gonzalez

The UCF Knights started off play in the new year with a second “War on I-4” weekend series against the USF Bulls. Though USF extended their win streak against UCF to three games on Saturday, UCF managed to defeat them in Sunday’s game, which took place in the Amway Center following the Orlando Solar Bears’ game.

Saturday’s game was on USF’s home ice, Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. The Bulls scored the first two goals of the game, but the Knights managed to get one in before the end of the first period. UCF tied the game early into the second period, but the Bulls came back with two more goals. Almost halfway through the final period, UCF scored once again in an attempt to catch up, but they didn’t quite manage it. USF scored twice more within the last four minutes of the game. The end score was 6-3, Bulls. UCF brushed the loss off and set their sights on Sunday’s big game, which held the possibility of a large redemption.

Sunday brought the much-anticipated rivalry game to the Amway Center. After an amazing 4-1 win for the Orlando Solar Bears, the college players took to the ice. UCF and USF both went into play with wins on their mind, but, similar to the game immediately before, Orlando was ultimately victorious. While both teams managed quite a few shots in the first period, only one made it into the net. UCF got the first goal of the game, scored by Andrew Schneider and assisted by Brandon Blaszczyk and Joseph Zanicchi. In the second period, Blaszczyk got another goal for the Knights, with assists from Zanicchi and Schneider. USF followed it up almost immediately with their own goal. The Bulls managed to tie it up before the period ended, leaving the score at 2-2 going into the third. Blaszczyk brought UCF ahead once again with his second goal of the game, assisted by Donovan McClellan and Zanicchi. UCF pulled further ahead with a power play goal scored by Hunter Chard, with assists from Shane O’Donnell and Rodney LaLonde. USF again followed the goal very quickly with their own short-handed goal, but it wasn’t enough. The game ended with a score of 4-3—UCF win.

This weekend’s “War on I-4” series went back and forth. Though UCF lost the first game, they pulled themselves into a victory in the big Amway game. It was nice to see the Knights overthrow their I-4 rivals at last, which is hopefully a sign of what’s to come in UCF’s long upcoming streak of away games.

Come support your UCF Knights in their only remaining home game, which will take place on Saturday, February 2, at 10:00pm at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Students get FREE ADMISSION with a UCF ID!