DII Lady Flames sweep DVCHC rival Rowan at home, travel to CHE Showcase this weekend

Friday, October 18

Lynchburg, VA

1:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Rowan University

Lady Flames freshman forward Ella Moerman gives a high-five to senior defenseman Kate Walhof as she skates along the bench in Friday's opener. (Photos by Ryan Anderson)

DII Lady Flames sweep DVCHC rival Rowan at home, travel to CHE Showcase this weekend

10/21/2024 5:38:00 PM | Women's D2 Hockey

Liberty dominated the Owls in shots and on the scoreboard to tune up for four games in four days at WVU and Mercyhurst.

After splitting last weekend's series at Maryville (Mo.) University, Liberty University's ACHA Division II women's hockey team swept DVCHC rival Rowan (N.J.) University, winning Friday afternoon's opener, 2-0, before netting three goals in the third period of a 5-2 triumph on Saturday at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"Rowan is a good competitive rival and our girls played very well," Liberty Head Coach Rena Leone said. "(Senior defenseman) Madi Gaddy, our captain, (junior forward) Guin Donovan, (freshman forward) Calissa Klein, and (sophomore forward) Cora Williams all had big games. Overall, we have lots of new players and they are still learning to play together. The speed is there, it's a matter of meshing on the ice and they are continuing to work on that."

The Lady Flames outshot the Lady Owls by a 36-16 count in the opener, including 19-2 in the second period when Gaddy started the scoring by putting away a pass from fellow senior forward Isabel Gracia with 8:23 remaining.

Donovan added an insurance goal on a power play with 5:24 left in the third period off an assist from Madison Natter.

Sophomore goalie Abby Hodsden made 16 saves to record her first shutout of the season.

In Saturday's game, freshman forward Abby Rogers opened the scoring at the 9:31 mark of the first period by finishing feeds from graduate forward Hunter DiGrazia and senior defenseman Kate Walhof. After Bella Knavel tied the game for Rowan with 11:58 left in the second period, Liberty responded with three straight goals, the first on a power play game winner by Donovan off an assist from Natter at the 3:08 mark of the second.

Williams scored off assists from Walhof and junior forward Reanna Cruz with 13:50 remaining in regulation before Klein converted off a pass from Williams with 9:36 to go. Knavel cut the deficit to 4-2 with her second goal with 7:47 to play before DiGrazia netted her first goal of the season off assists from Klein and Rogers to cap the scoring.

Liberty (7-1) outshot the Owls (1-3) by a 41-20 margin and graduate goalie Kylie Mebs, returning to the DII team for the weekend after being called back up to the DI squad this fall, made 18 saves to record the win.

Playing in the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield, Mo., last weekend, the Lady Flames dropped their first game to the Saints, 3-0, late Friday night, Oct. 11, before winning Saturday afternoon's rematch, 6-4, on Oct. 12.

Liberty will return to action this week with its second road trip, challenging West Virginia on Thursday at 10 p.m. in Morgantown, W. Va., before competing in a College Hockey East Showcase hosted by Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa. There, the Lady Flames will challenge Niagara University on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Robert Morris University on Saturday at 10 a.m., and the host Lakers on Sunday at 8 a.m.

Next weekend, after hosting Georgetown at the LIC on Friday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m., Liberty will travel to Annapolis, Md., to face two of its best DVCHC rivals, playing Villanova on Nov. 2 at 8:30 p.m. and host Navy on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media

Gallery: (10-21-2024) DII women's hockey vs. Rowan