Under the bright lights and crisp outdoor air at Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, the University of Georgia Hockey Team delivered an unforgettable performance, rallying from behind to defeat Virginia Tech 4-3 in overtime.

The Hokies came out firing early, applying relentless pressure and capitalizing twice in the first period—striking at 11:59 and again at 16:39 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. But the Ice Dawgs refused to go quietly. With just three seconds left in the opening frame, Evan Moore seized an opportunity and buried an unassisted goal, swinging momentum back toward Georgia.

UGA carried that energy into the second period. At 10:51, Dylan Punzenberger evened the score with a slick finish off a feed from Jordan Sirota. Virginia Tech answered late, however, reclaiming the lead at 19:51 to head into the third up 3-2.

The final period was a battle of wills. Both teams traded chances, but Georgia broke through on the power play with just 3:22 remaining. Declan Conway hammered home the equalizer, assisted by Truman Haugen and Evan Parente, sending the game to sudden-death overtime.

Overtime was electric. Both squads had opportunities, but it was Jordan Sirota who etched his name in Ice Dawgs lore. At 2:25 of OT, Sirota went coast-to-coast on a dazzling rush and fired a shot into the top corner, sealing the 4-3 victory and igniting celebrations on the outdoor stage.

Behind the scenes, goaltender Isaac Haugen was the backbone of Georgia’s resilience. Haugen turned aside 46 of 49 shots, making several clutch saves to keep the Ice Dawgs alive throughout the contest.

This win not only showcased Georgia’s grit but also highlighted the magic of outdoor hockey—a night the players and fans will never forget.