Liberty University Club Sports
DVCHC Showcase - Loyola University
DII Lady Flames sweep Loyola, Towson, West Chester at DVCHC Showcase in Pa.
11/23/2021 4:16:48 PM | Women's D2 Hockey
Liberty University’s ACHA Division II women’s hockey team dominated Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) opponents Loyola (Md.), Towson (Md.), and West Chester (Pa.), winning by 3-1, 10-1, and 10-0 scores, respectively, at this past weekend’s showcase played at the IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston, Pa.
“This was a morale boost for our next series at home against West Virginia,” Liberty Head Coach Rena Leone said of the Dec. 3-4 series at the LaHaye Ice Center. “Now everyone on the team, including all of our newcomers (and excluding the Lady Flames two goalies) have scored a goal.”
She said the breakthrough of offensive production was just a matter of time, even without three members of their 17-player roster sidelined by injury and other obligations.
“It was definitely a team effort, playing more as a team and less as individuals,” Leone said. “It was a good team bonding trip, and good for building team chemistry. Everyone was staying in their same lines, slowly figuring out how to play with each other.”
The Lady Flames (3-7-1) improved to 3-5-1 in DVCHC play after losing its season opener at current conference leader Delaware, 4-0 on Oct. 1, tying second-place Villanova, 3-3 on Oct. 2, and being swept at third-place Navy, 2-1 and 3-1 on Oct. 9-10, before suffering back-to-back 5-3 losses at fourth-place Rowan Oct. 23-24.
Liberty’s other two losses came by 7-1 and 7-2 scores at Lake Superior State University, ranked No. 1 in the Central Division, Nov. 5-6 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
“In the first (ACHD DII) rankings that came out last week, we were ranked at No. 6 out of 17 teams in the Southeast Division, due to our strength of schedule,” Leone said, noting that they may move into the top five ahead of No. 4 Loyola following the weekend sweep.
That would give them an autobid to the March 15-19 ACHA Division II National Championships in St. Louis if they could stay in the top five in the regular season’s final rankings.
The Lady Flames were without sophomore forward Amanda Varga, who will meet with her doctor over Thanksgiving Break to determine if she needs surgery on her wrist. The team also missed freshman forward Gabby Sanchez, who underwent knee surgery two weeks ago, and senior defenseman Brynlee Anderson.
“We were playing with 12 skaters — nine forwards and three defensemen — and two goalies,” Leone said, noting that Liberty got exceptional play from its three defensemen — freshman Madison Natter, who scored several goals and played strongly defensively, junior Dominique Duenas, who scored her first goal, and graduate head captain Sarah LaPorte. “Sarah definitely led the team on and off the ice, and her energy was carrying over to the forwards.”
Natter and freshman forward Madison Gaddy both scored two goals against West Chester and reshman forward Camille Sponaugle, the team’s leading scorer with five goals and two assists on the season, added one of each against the Golden Rams.
In net, freshman Izzy Buckett made a couple great saves in the opener against Loyola, which scored its only goal on a deflection in front of the net.
Lady Flames senior forward Delaney Adams started the scoring off assists from Sponaugle and Natter in the first period before Natter netted the game winner early in the third and LaPorte added an empty-net insurance score in the final minute. Liberty outshot Loyola, 55-15, and Buckett made 14 saves.
Buckett started the first half of the second game against Towson before sophomore Alex Ritter went the rest of the way and earned the season’s first shutout against West Chester.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
