For UF hockey, special teams have been a mixed bag; one unit has thrived, while the other has sputtered.
Nowhere was that more evident than in their series against FAU.
Though UF went 0-for-10 on the power play over the weekend, its penalty kill carried it to victory. The Gators shut down both of FAU’s late chances on the man advantage and stood strong with the net empty, earning a 3-1 bounce-back win in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday night.
The defeat marked Florida Atlantic’s first of the season and evened the best-of-six series between the two squads at one game apiece.
Overall, the Gators looked far sharper than they had in Friday’s opener. They tightened up defensively, forcing play to the perimeter to prevent the reigning 2025 champions Owls from ever finding sustained momentum. UF also stayed disciplined, avoiding the frustrations and penalties that plagued it in Game One.
With strong performances from top-liners like sophomore center Liam Lecauchois and junior defenseman Noah Horwitz, Florida was able to maintain possession from start to finish, outshooting FAU 39-19.
The Gators’ control at even strength paid off early. Freshman forward Ronny Kemly opened the scoring in the first period with a redirect that fluttered through the pads of sophomore goaltender Rocco Bruno, ending UF’s scoreless bid against the FAU netminder.
Alternate captain Horwitz then doubled the lead in the next period with a one-timer from the circle, his second goal of the season, to keep Florida’s momentum rolling.
Even when FAU junior forward Jake Murphy answered with his fifth goal in three games, the Gators held their composure — a sharp contrast to Friday’s collapse. Just moments later, Lecauchois fed a cross-ice pass to junior winger Michael Katz, who buried it over Bruno’s shoulder to restore the two-goal cushion.
In net, freshman goaltender Zach Shield was another key contributor. He made plenty of crucial stops throughout the game, but none were bigger than his third-period saves while the Gators were shorthanded.
With under 90 seconds remaining and the FAU net empty, Shield scrambled in the crease to keep the puck out, allowing Florida to pin the puck along the boards and close out a 3-1 victory.
The rookie goaltender has made the most of his opportunities, posting a 2-0 record while giving up just three goals in limited action.
The Gators will remain on the road for their next game, facing the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday. Puck drops at 8:10 p.m. at Flight Adventure Park in Irmo, South Carolina.
Contact Daniela Ortiz at dortiz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @danielaortizUF.
Daniela is a junior sports journalism student and the enterprise/hockey beat reporter for Fall 2025. When not writing an article, you can catch her drawing or playing with her roommates' cats.
