Liberty University Club Sports
Ohio University
Flames end three-game skid by doubling up Bobcats, 4-2, evening all-time series
2/11/2022 11:59:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
A road trip to face longtime rival Ohio University was just what Liberty University’s No. 5-ranked ACHA Division I men’s hockey team needed to snap its season-long three-game losing streak — its longest since losing at Arizona State and being swept by Minot State in the 2015-16 regular-season-ending series — Friday night at Bird Arena in Athens, Ohio.
The Flames (18-7-1) erased a 1-0 deficit after the first period by scoring four of the game’s final five goals to double up the No. 15 Bobcats (14-12-3) by a 4-2 count, leveling the teams’ all-time series record at 16-16.
“Our guys stuck with it tonight and played a full game,” Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. “We wanted to come out here and play for 60 minutes and I felt like we really battled hard tonight and we took advantage of our opportunities.”
After Bobcats leading scorer JT Schimizzi gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead with his 18th goal of the season in the first period, Flames sophomore forward and leading scorer Jason Foltz (13 goals, 24 assists) netted the equalizer just 58 seconds into the second period, finishing assists from freshman forward Jackson Vercellono and freshman defenseman Matt Berezowski seconds after the Flames killed a penalty.
“Foltz came out of the penalty box after we had too many men on the ice (late in the first period) and we got a steal and set him up for a breakaway there,” Handy said. “He was opportunistic on that one.”
Senior forward Devin Melice, playing for the first time with freshman Jacob Kalandyk and sophomore Kris Bladen, lifted Liberty to its first lead at 2-1 with a goal assisted by both of his new linemates with 13:36 left. But the Bobcats tied it at 2-2 just over five minutes later by capitalizing on a power play after Flames senior defenseman and head captain Colin Baird was called for tripping.
Sophomore forward Kam Ottenbreit netted the game-winner early in the third period, set up by Berezowski and junior forward Brett Gammer.
“Ottenbreit has been solid for us the last few games, playing with Gammer and (sophomore DJ) Schwenke,” Handy said. “That line has really been a big key for us.”
Handy put together another new forward line of Vercellono and fellow freshman Nate Albers and sophomore Truett Olson.
“Those are three guys who played together at NorthStar Christian Academy (FCA Hockey’s school in Minnesota),” Handy said. “They were hard on the forecheck and really had a lot of energy all night for us.”
Liberty went on the power play with 1:48 remaining in regulation and added an insurance goal by senior forward Matt Bartel 40 seconds later, assisted by Foltz and Kalandyk.
Liberty outshot Ohio, 35-31, and senior goalie Hunter Virostek made 29 saves to improve to 14-6-1.
“They had a power play with 6:40 to go in the third period and he made some huge saves for us,” Handy said.
The Flames also won the faceoff battle, 38-26.
“All-in-all, we were solid in the circle,” Handy said. “It was a real physical battle, and I liked how our guys responded in a really hostile environment.”
Liberty only took three minor penalties on the night and its PK unit killed off two of them.
“Our guys played well,” Handy said. “You always know it’s going to be a tough game in here, and we are looking forward to playing an even better game tomorrow. It is imperative that we keep getting better every night and take our game to the next level.”
In Saturday’s rematch at Bird Arena, the puck will again drop at 7 p.m., when the Flames will look to take the lead in the all-time series with their 14th win in the past 16 meetings.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
