Liberty University Club Sports
ACHA National Tournament
Lady Flames survive and advance past spirited RedHawks in renewal of rivalry
3/19/2023 8:39:48 AM | Women's D1 Hockey
Liberty University’s top-ranked ACHA Division I women’s hockey team, vying for a fifth consecutive crown at the ACHA National Championships in Marlborough, Mass., very nearly had its storybook streak snapped by No. 10 Miami (Ohio) University on Saturday night at the New England Sports Complex.
The Lady Flames (24-2-1), playing for the first time in more than a month since having their three-year reign as WMCH Tournament champions ended by Midland (Neb.) in St. Louis, broke open a tie game with two goals in the final two minutes of a 3-1 triumph over the RedHawks (17-10-3).
In a game that featured 13 penalties, including seven assessed to Miami, both teams scored one power play goal in the third period — with the RedHawks netting the equalizer with 6:38 remaining in regulation and Liberty scoring the game-winner just under five minutes later.
“Miami played a really good game,” said Lady Flames junior goalie Amanda Storey, who made 16 saves to preserve the win, though her counterpart, Maya Gonzalez, recorded 59 as Liberty outshot Miami, 62-17. “They were really good defensively, blocking a lot of shots (and) I give a lot of credit to their goalie. She’s amazing and she definitely kept them in it all the way to the end, so props to her.”
Both teams were held scoreless through the first 26 minutes of play before Lady Flames sophomore forward Brielle Fussy finally cashed in off an assist from graduate forward and head captain Shelby Bradford with 13:20 left in the second period, threading a shot through traffic as she skated left to right through the right circle.
That’s how the score remained for the next 26 minutes before the RedHawks went on a power play and Laura Labarre tied it at 1-1 by finally sneaking a shot past Storey off an assist from linemate Emma Heinig,
“Ton of credit to Miami for their battle,” Lady Flames Head Coach Chris Lowes said of the team that won three national titles in four years from 2014-17, with Liberty winning its first against the RedHawks in 2015. “They believed they were going to get that tying goal and they did and they played a heck of a game just grinding it out. We had tons of energy, we just couldn’t find that last touch.”
Miami was whistled for a costly tripping penalty with 3:29 to go and nearly killed it off before junior forward Rianna Spanier received the puck in the slot and capitalized at the 1:49 mark on a shot through a screen of Gonzalez set by Fussy in front.
“It was great,” Spanier said of the game-winner assisted by sophomore defensemen Madison Glynn and Peyton Carle. “That goalie played a heck of a game, man, and we couldn’t finish. It was crazy. They definitely showed up to play. They had us a little bit on our toes in the last few minutes, but we wanted it. The puck bounced out and I had to put it through.”
Just 24 seconds later, senior forward and alternate captain Brityn Fussy all but put the win on ice by taking a pass from freshman defenseman Emerson Oakes and lifting a wrist shot through the slot with 1:25 to play.
“To get that power play late (was key) because we were struggling to find a little finish,” Lowes said. “To see Rhi step up and get that and Bri get the insurance at the end, just happy to be moving on.”
Liberty advances to Sunday’s 7 p.m. semifinal game against No. 4 Adrian College, a 5-3 winner over No. 5 Indiana Tech. That will be a rematch of the Lady Flames’ 2018 national championship, their first of four in a row under Lowes. Liberty is relieved to be alive to fight another day, especially coming off a loss their last time out, in their WMCH final.
“After conference, we just changed our mindset and just got back to work,” Storey said. “Now, we’re here and we’re really excited about how we’re playing. Adrian, for sure, will be a big test for us. They’ve always been one of our biggest rivals and It’s always a good battle, but I think that we’re ready. We can learn something from tonight and apply it to tomorrow and hopefully have a good game against them.”
Freshman Alex Keith will start between the pipes for the Lady Flames.
“I’m really excited for her to get her first national game in and I know she’s going to do really well,” Storey said.
Lowes expects an even more physical challenge and emotional test from Adrian.
“Now the road is going to get tougher because now, every team you’re facing feels that it’s their year,” he said. “Tomorrow, that’s Adrian. They’re a very good team that won their conference championship. They’re really flying high. It’s just another extension of a long-storied rivalry (and) it’s going to be an intense game.”
“We’re going to come to play,” Spanier added. ““People come to play us, and we really want to win, so we’re going to give them our best shot. We’ll reset and refocus tonight and bring it all in tomorrow. It will be a gritty game, but I think if we use our speed, we’ll be able to make it through to the final.”
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media
