Liberty University Club Sports
Maryville University
DII Lady Flames narrowly miss ACHA nationals cut for second season in a row
3/7/2023 5:52:00 PM | Women's D2 Hockey
Before learning last week that it had missed out on the Southeast Region's fourth and final autobid to the ACHA Division II National Championships by one-tenth of a point in the final Southeast Region rankings, Liberty University's ACHA DII women's hockey team did everything it could to try to move into contention.
In their last two ACHA contests, the Lady Flames swept Maryville University on its home ice in Chesterfield, Mo., on Feb. 17-18, winning the opener 3-0 and the rematch 5-2 while outshooting the Saints by a 109-25 margin.
Freshman defenseman Katie Walhof scored two goals in the first game and assisted the third, scored by graduate forward Sarah LaPorte on a power play.
Liberty freshman goalie Abby Hodsden made 17 saves to post her sixth shutout of the season and lower her goals-against average to 1.63.
Sophomore wing Piper Priem and freshman Isabel Crossman netted first-period goals in the rematch, Crossman's on a power play off assists from LaPorte and sophomore forward Isabel Gracia to seize a 2-0 lead, before Walhof scored the second goal of the second period and the first of the third to build Liberty's lead to 4-1.
The Lady Flames (15-7-2), who are no longer affiliated with College Hockey East or the DVCHC, finished the regular season by going 9-1-1 in their final 11 games, including a 2-2 tie at Rowan (N.J.) University, which helped the Profs secure the No. 4 spot. The teams went 2-2-2 in head-to-head competition this season, with a two-goal advantage by Rowan (9-8-3) accounting for the 0.1 differential in the final ranking.
Lady Flames Head Coach Rena Leone said the Lady Flames were not quite as strong as they were in 2019-20, when they qualified for nationals for the second time in program history before they were canceled by COVID-19. But they could be better next season after graduating only one senior this spring. Leone is planning to bring in five freshmen recruits in the fall to complement the 19 returning players.
"The girls from last semester to this semester have bonded so well and they are really hitting their stride right now," Leone said. "Next year, we will label it our Redemption Tour. If we can pick up where we left off, we are going to be a hard team to beat."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
