Over the weekend, the NC State women’s hockey club played in its first official game, falling to the George Washington Colonials 5-3. 

While it wasn’t the result that the Pack would have liked, it shows tremendous promise that the program is here and can compete, and will hopefully stay that way for years to come.

After many practices and scrimmages with the NC Trailblazers, the Wolfpack traveled to Winston-Salem to take on the Colonials in the same venue where the ACCHL was hosting its men’s championships. 

The Pack set out to showcase its talents with quite a few players competing in their first ever ice hockey match. Club president sophomore Emily Petersen had mentioned when the club was formed how a few of the girls had never played before, but the team looked solid as they took to the ice.

Right off the bat, junior Hannah Murphy lit the lamp for NC State marking the first ever goal for the club on a breakaway only 1:16 into the game.

George Washington grabbed two goals in transition a bit later in the first, but NC State didn’t go away and it was Petersen who rifled one in from the top of the circle to pull the teams back even. The Colonials grabbed another one late into the first period on a breakaway to regain the lead and another late goal in the second pushed it further 4-2.

The Pack looked more and more solid the longer the game went along, but it couldn’t find a way to break through George Washington. That was, until Petersen notched her second of the afternoon cruising through the slot. 

The Wolfpack had momentum and George Washington was barely hanging on, but a late goal from the Colonials gave them the breath they needed to hang on for the win.

NC State showed great composure and skill in its first ever match. The game was not only the first ever for NC State but it was also the first women’s game for the ACCHL. 

Big things are coming as commissioner Mike Walley stated that Liberty and West Virginia are slated to take part in games next year as well as potentially two other teams, so it is looking like the Pack’s pool of opponents will be growing exponentially as the years progress.

With its first game and first goals in the books, the Wolfpack will be ready next year to pursue its first win in program history and with the roster it has already fielded in only its first season, it’s looking like it will be just on the horizon.