Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
DII Flames raise record to 5-0 with wins at Delaware, UMBC
10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's D2 Hockey
After erasing a 3-0 deficit midway through the second period with five straight goals in a 5-4 victory Friday night on Delaware's Olympic-sized ice, Liberty University's ACHA Division II men's hockey team seized control early in Saturday afternoon's game at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, getting goals from six different players in a 7-2 rout.
"For our first road trip, it was good for our team to start bonding and developing team chemistry and building their identity while overcoming adversity," Head Coach Chris Lowes said after the Flames improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey (MACH) play. "They stayed calm and came together last night, rallying for five consecutive goals (against the Blue Hens). Any time (the Retrievers) showed us something by cutting into our lead today, we kept them from getting any momentum."
Freshman goalie Clayton Pierce started in goal against Delaware before sophomore Jarrett Epp earned the win in his first start against UMBC.
"Pierce played well, especially when we're down three," Lowes said. "He gave us a chance to find our legs and start firing."
Liberty only held a 34-29 shot advantage against Delaware, which will host the MACH playoffs before the Flames host the ACHA South Region tournament in late February. Liberty doubled UMBC in shots, 42-21, and dominated its opponents on the power play, converting three out of six in both games while holding the Blue Hens to one power-play goal out of six opportunities and the Retrievers to none in three chances.
After getting goals from five forwards on Friday — seniors Devon Docksteader, Ben Freymond, and Jordan Barstead, junior Tim Bierema, and graduate Peter Kazmierczak — the Flames recorded two goals by graduate Danny Logan as well as single scores by Kazmierczak, juniors Robert Ward, Paul Lamoureux, and Bierema, as well as Freymond against UMBC.
"We've got some offensive ability and we're getting production from a lot of guys," Lowes said. "We got great production everywhere this weekend, especially on special teams. We were better on the power play and were doing well on the penalty kill, too."
Liberty will travel to Slippery Rock, an ACHA Division I program, for two games next Friday and Saturday.
"It's not usual, but I'm not surprised we're playing them," Lowes said of facing a DI team. "I think we've earned the respect and wish we could play more."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
