Already down three skaters, Florida lost another when Zelmanski received a disqualification and, later, a two-game suspension — a hit that would loom over Sunday’s rematch.
The UF ice hockey club was swept by FAU in the weekend series, falling 6-3 on Sunday. With UF, FAU and Tampa all near the top of the ACHA Men’s DII College Hockey South standings, the results could carry playoff implications.
The matchup also marked the fifth meeting between the Gators and Owls this season. The teams will play each other for the final time on Jan. 30.
By the end of the weekend, the Gators were without six players, and the absences showed. Florida never looked fully connected, especially on the back end. Defensive lapses in front of the net contributed to most of FAU’s goals, and UF struggled to maintain the transition-driven style that typically suits its game.
Despite this, the Gators opened Friday with energy. They carried the early shot advantage and forced FAU goaltender Rocco Bruno, who was playing his third straight game, to make several difficult saves.
That energy held until the final three minutes of the first period, when David Ros buried a one-timer over UF goalie Zach Shield to break the scoreless tie.
Florida never fully recovered. A flat second period led to two more FAU goals, both in the closing minute. Ronan Keenan’s wrist shot doubled the lead for the Owls, and a late penalty on UF rookie James Mazzei set up a power-play goal for Brady Baehser with two seconds remaining.
UF managed two third-period goals from forwards Michael Katz and Liam Lecauchois, hinting at a comeback, but neither shifted the momentum. Each time the Gators scored, FAU countered immediately, a trend that defined Florida’s struggles over the weekend.
Jason Seefeldt pushed the lead to 5-2 after a breakdown in front of Shield, and forward Jackson Nieuwendyk delivered the 6-2 dagger, scoring his sixth goal in three games against UF.
Unlike the previous two matchups, the Gators couldn’t create any late push. The final minutes ticked away, sealing the 6-2 final.
The Gators play their next game on Thursday against Ole Miss at the Mid-South Ice House in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Game time is set for 9:30 p.m.
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.
