Men's Ice Lobos beat GCU 5-3 in finale, leave Arizona with a split

PEORIA, Ariz. — While it was another split for the University of New Mexico Men’s Club Hockey team Oct. 17-18, the Ice Lobos crossed a new box off the season checklist:

Win a series finale.

After a tough 5-4 Friday loss against Grand Canyon University, the Lobos answered back on Saturday with a 5-3 victory over the Antelopes on the road.

“We came in with solid energy, our structure held up well, and we generated good chances,” UNM forward Mike Patruno said. “But we also let ourselves slip at key moments and gave up momentum.”

The biggest of Patruno’s aforementioned key moments was when the Lobos tied up Friday’s contest 4-4 with 10 minutes to go in the game. After giving up a 2-0 lead, UNM found an answer after entering the third period down 4-3.

The equalizer seemed to give UNM the momentum, but the ‘Lopes took it right back. GCU put one away in the final minutes to squeeze out the 5-4 win.

Down 1-0 in a series for the first time in 2025, the numbers did not favor the Ice Lobos’ chances of avoiding a sweep. But when the puck dropped late Saturday night at AZ Ice Peoria Rink, it was UNM with the numbers on their side.

At the end of two periods, New Mexico was outshot by Grand Canyon 21-5. Surely that means the Antelopes ran away with it, right?

2-0, Lobos lead.

On just five shots, UNM buried two goals, thanks to Hunter Coulombe and Zach Ganshaw.

GCU would lead the shot column all night, but a stingy performance by goalie Kameron Remde kept them silent through two frames. UNM would put away three third-period goals to stave off a late ‘Lopes push, leaving Arizona with a victory for a happy bus ride home.

On the stat sheet, it was your usual suspects. Nick Weaver had another big series, notching a multi-goal trip. Weaver and Issa Murakami both recorded goals in the Lobos’ statement third period on Saturday to help secure the win.

Now 3-3 on the season, the Lobos will look for their first series sweep of the season with another road trip, this time, traveling east to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to face a Cowboys team they went 2-0 against last season.

“Overall, it was a step in the right direction,” Patruno said. “Now we’ll focus on tightening the details for next time. We are ready to have a great week at practice and get ready for Oklahoma State.”