Freshman forward Mark Padgett scored three goals over the weekend series sweep of Northeastern. (Photos by Matt Reynolds)
DII Flames sweep Huskies, travel to St. Louis for rematch with Lions
11/8/2023 3:08:00 PM | Men's D2 Hockey
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Liberty improved to 9-3-1 with its fifth win in a row in preparation for this weekend's series at Lindenwood (13-2).
Liberty University's ACHA Division II men's hockey team swept Northeastern on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the LaHaye Ice Center.
The Flames (9-3-1) scored twice in the second and third periods of a 4-1 victory in the opener and three times in the second and third stanzas of a 7-4 triumph in the rematch.
The series is the teams' first meeting since the Huskies ended Liberty's season with a 1-0 defeat with a last-minute goal in the final round of pool play in last season's ACHA DII National Championships in Marlborough, Mass., near Boston.
On Friday night, following a scoreless first period, Liberty struck twice in the second on goals by junior wing Josh Tucker — a point-blank putback near the right post assisted by freshman forward Aaron Higgins at the 15:39 mark — and junior center Roman Lamoureux on a slapshot from the top of the left circle off a steal and outlet from sophomore forward Mark Padgett with 7:17 to play.
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Freshman defenseman Dylan Kent fires a shot in the last series against Lindenwood.
In the third period, the Flames padded their lead and deflated the Huskies (5-3) when junior forward Eric Abbate scored a shorthanded goal after skating onto a loose puck near the red line and through the right circle before firing a sharp-angled shot with 17:41 remaining in regulation. Padgett capped the scoring for Liberty with a power-play goal at the 5:56 mark off an assist across the slot from sophomore defenseman Logan Starkey.
Liberty outshot Northeastern by a 26-24 margin and junior goalie Lane Skon made 23 saves, only missing recording a shutout when Huskies forward Shane Coen scored off an assist from Leo Byers with 5:52 to go.
Saturday's rematch was a higher-scoring affair as both teams ramped up their attacks. The Flames outshot the Huskies 43-39 and Skon made 35 saves.
Liberty netted the only goal of the first period when sophomore forward Antonio Vidal scored on a shot from the point off assists from junior forward Jared Matley and sophomore defenseman Logan Johnson 5:01 after the opening faceoff. Then, in the second, after Northwestern tied it at 1 at the 13:18 mark on a power-play goal by Byers following a five-minute major assessed to Tucker, the Flames opened a 4-1 advantage sparked by Lamoureux's shorthanded score after a steal and assist from sophomore forward Thomas Kayner with 12:00 to play. Padgett then finished off feeds from Vidal and Matley on an odd-man rush with 2:26 left before Matley scored unassisted on a steal behind the cage and quick wraparound the right post with 1:07 to go.
Offenses shifted into high gear in the third period when both teams scored three times, starting with the third goals of the weekend from Liberty's Lamoureux, on a steal and wicked wrist shot with 15:08 to play, and Padgett, who backhanded in the rebound of Starkey's shot blocked by a Huskie defenseman at the 8:24 mark. Senior defenseman Rece Poulin stretched Liberty's lead to 7-1 on a power play shot from the high slot assisted by Starkey with 6:36 left before Northeastern netted three goals in a row to end the contest, the last on a power play after a 10-minute misconduct in the closing two minutes.
The Flames, who debuted at No. 5 in the first Southeast Region rankings, will travel to St. Louis this weekend for a series at Lindenwood (13-2) — the No. 2-ranked team in the Central Region that dealt them a 5-1 setback in the Oct. 13 opener of a three-game showcase at the LIC — Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media
