Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Key save, adjustment help DII Flames cap showcase sweep
10/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's D2 Hockey
Midway through the Flames' third and final game of the Louisville Showcase on Sunday, freshman goalie Blake Scott — making his first start between the pipes for the Liberty University Division II men's hockey team — preserved a one-goal lead with a spectacular save in a 4-1 victory over Davenport.
"It was a shot from the hash mark that hit him in the chest and bounced over him and he made a sprawling, diving save to lay on the puck behind him," Liberty assistant coach Mike Morrison said. "It was a very athletic save and the guys went crazy on the bench. It was a really big shift in momentum in the game and we were able to get two more goals in the period that gave us a commanding lead."
Junior forward Devon Docksteader netted his fourth and fifth goals of the Flames' three-game sweep — over Penn State, Louisville, and Davenport — in the first 1:11 and final 22 seconds of the second period.
The first, on a tight wraparound assisted by junior forward Ben Freymond after a scrum in front of the net, extended the Flames' lead to 2-0 after junior defenseman Roger Roulette put them up 1-0 on a fluky goal in the first period. Just three and a half minutes after the opening faceoff, Roulette received a pass from junior forward Kaleb Shannon, stepped over the red line, and put the puck on net only to watch it bounce over the stick of the Panthers' goalie and through the five hole.
Though Liberty had the early lead, Scott, who made 29 saves for the game, was being pressured more often than Head Coach Chris Lowes would have liked.
"Halfway through the first period, he called timeout and made adjustments as to what system they were playing," Morrison said. "They were playing a trap, a defensive strategy. We had to review our breakout that we put together in practices and were able to break the trap and put pressure on their defense and their goaltender. After that, guys were flying pretty hard and we were able to gain a lot of puck possession."
Davenport scored early in the second period to draw the Panthers back within 2-1 before the Flames responded with the game's final two goals — one by alternate captain Peter Kazmierczak, who beat the goalie blocker-side off a well-placed assist from fellow junior forward DJ Dinnison with 12:48 left.
Docksteader capped the scoring with a shorthanded goal assisted by junior forward and head captain Paul Ingles, with a short breakaway shot over the goalie's blocker into the net.
"Our first line of Freymond, Ingles, and Docksteader are very creative with their style of play, and are able to get their goals when they have their opportunities," Morrison said.
Liberty outshot Davenport 36-30 for the game and Scott shined in his first collegiate win.
"He did really well and we were really happy for him, especially with three games in three days, that he was able to come in and get a win for us to complete the sweep," Morrison said. "Winning our first five games on the road is big for us, especially with two of the three wins this weekend against teams in our Southeast Region. That should help us out for the first ranking period."
Liberty travels to the Berglund Civic Center in Roanoke next Sunday at 5 p.m. to challenge Virginia Tech in the opener of the "Battle of the Blue Ridge," a best-of-three-game series against the Southeast Region rival Hokies.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
