Sophomore defenseman Katrina Walhof celebrates a goal during Saturday night's opener. (Photos by Kendall Tidwell)
DII women complete sweep of Lady Terrapins with 2-1 overtime win on Sunday
10/9/2023 4:39:00 PM | Women's D2 Hockey
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The Lady Flames are off to a 4-0 start for the third time in five seasons, including an 11-0 start to the 2019-20 campaign.
Liberty University's ACHA Division II women's hockey team matched the second-best start in program history by sweeping the University of Maryland, winning 4-0 late Saturday night and 2-1 in overtime on Sunday afternoon at the LaHaye Ice Center.
The Lady Flames (4-0) tied the 2018-19 squad that also started out 4-0 and are off to their best start since 2019-20, when they a set a program standard by winning their first 11 games.
Senior goalie Kylie Mebs posted a shutout in the opener, making 30 saves as Liberty outshot the Terrapins, 47-30. The Lady Flames netted three goals in the second period and added another in the third while holding Maryland scoreless.
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Lady Flames freshman wing Cora Williams had a goal and an assist on Saturday.
Sophomore center Isabel Crossman started the scoring at the 17:44 mark by finishing a third putback, putting away the rebound of a shot by freshman right wing Cora Williams from the left crease inside the right post. Williams doubled the lead to 2-0 on a sharp-angled shot through the five hole with 5:56 left in the period. That was set up by senior right wing Hunter DiGrazia, who gathered Crossman's shot off the backboards near the left post before dishing a short pass to Williams.
With 2:41 to play in the period, junior forward Laura Arfstrom skated the puck behind the net before finding sophomore forward Katrina Walhof at the top of the left circle where she launched a low wrist shot through traffic for a 3-0 Liberty advantage.
Junior forward Isabel Gracia capped the scoring unassisted with a shot from the left backboards that glanced off the stick of a defenseman past the goalie stationed at the left post for the final score midway through the third period.
Liberty's penalty kill unit squelched all five of Maryland's power-play opportunities.
In Sunday afternoon's rematch, the Lady Flames overcame an early 1-0 deficit, with DiGrazia netting the equalizer off an assist from junior defenseman Madison Natter with 9:19 left in the second period. After a scoreless third period, freshman defenseman Julieann Nye netted the game winner at the 3:17 mark of the five-minute sudden-death overtime period, putting away a pass from Crossman.
Liberty outshot Maryland by a 49-17 margin and sophomore goalie Abby Hodsden earned the win with 16 saves.Â
The Lady Flames will return to action with a single game at Rowan on Oct. 20 followed by a two-game series at Delaware on Oct. 21-22.
Video by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media
