In what might be considered a preview of the I-40 Faceoff, Vanderbilt Ice Hockey welcomed their in-state rivals, the Tennessee Ice Vols, to Nashville for a pair of games this weekend. Vandy dominated two very physical games and sent the Vols back to Knoxville without a win.
After a slow start Friday, the Commodores found themselves down 1-0 after the first period at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville. The Dores woke up and came out firing on all cylinders in the second. With four unanswered goals scored by four different skaters, Vandy took a 4-1 lead into the third period. It only took Vandy 46 seconds to increase the score in the third. UT answered with their last goal of the night at 14:31 of the third. Not to be outdone, Vandy sealed the game less than a minute later. The final in Nashville was VU 6, UT 2.
Saturday, at A-Game Sportsplex in Franklin, Vandy found themselves in familiar territory, trailing 1-0 at the end of the first. The second period proved once again to be Vandy’s favorite as they scored four goals. The Dores continued the onslaught in the third by adding four more. The Ice Vols did score two more goals but left Franklin with an 8-3 loss.
Vandy improved their record to 6-7 overall and 3-2 in the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference and clinched an SECHC tournament berth. Vanderbilt’s next series begins Friday, January 18th at the Mid-South Ice House in Memphis as they take on the Memphis Tigers. Friday’s game starts at 9:15 pm and Saturday’s begins at 4:15 pm.
