Friday, November 1
Niagara Falls, NY
1:30 PM
Liberty University Club Sports
0
at
1
Niagara University
Senior defenseman Nate Cox skates against Niagara University in a game last season at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Brooke McDuffee)
Flames snuffed by Purple Eagles in opener, settle for tie before falling in shootout
11/1/2024 5:52:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
Sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch stood on his head to keep Liberty in the game before being giving up goals on Niagara's final two shootout attempts.
Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team battled fellow independent program Niagara University to a scoreless tie through 60 minutes of regulation play and a five-minute sudden-death overtime. The Purple Eagles overcame a 1-0 deficit to win the shootout, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Dwyer Arena in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
"It was a back-and-forth game," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "I don't think we played very well. We looked like we didn't want to lose the game instead of looking like we wanted to win it. We need more of a proactive mentality (in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. rematch) than we had today."
No. 13 Niagara (9-1-1) outshot No. 6 Liberty (9-3-1) by a 31-28 margin for the game, including 15-3 in the second period. Sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch made 31 saves in regulation before stopping two of the Purple Eagles' four shootout attempts.
"Kausch was our best player tonight," Handy said. "He played great for us. We had our chances, but we have got to be better on power play (Saturday) and make sure we're executing better 5-on-5. We didn't look very dangerous out there today."
The game marked the return of junior defenseman Reid Bogenholm from an early-season shoulder surgery. He played a key role in the Flames' defensive success.
"It was good to have Reid back out there playing in his first game back, and he played pretty well," Handy said.
Early in the third period, junior defenseman Laz Kaebel launched three shots from the perimeter that were blocked by Niagara goalie Brady McEwan and didn't create any putback opportunities.
On the other end, Kausch made a spectacular diving save of a shot from the high slot. Liberty had quality counterattack chances on fast breaks before Kausch, and his defensive corps made a series of saves of close-range shots from around the cage by the Purple Eagles.
Kaebel crashed into the right post of Liberty's as he retreated to provide support on a Niagara rush as fellow junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau was checked into the backboards. Combined, they squelched the threat with Kausch standing tall between them.
In overtime, with the teams skating 4-on-4 after a penalty expired, both teams had chances but were unable to capitalize as Kausch and McEwan shut them down.
Sophomore forward Ryan Finch converted the first shootout attempt, swooping in from the left side before picketing his shot into the top-right corner of the cage. However, when freshman forward Michael Debrito and senior forward and alternate captain Jacob Kalandyk were unable to provide an insurance score, the Purple Eagles tied it up on their third attempt with Tristan Taillefer lifting a backhander from the right crease over Kausch.
Finch was stopped on his second shootout try as he tripped over the outstretched stick of McEwan and landed in the back of the net before being ejected after pushing him to the ice. That set the stage for leading scorer Charlie Belanger to net the game winner, drawing Kausch out and then deking the puck into the right crease before jamming it in as Kausch slid back into the cage.
The Flames will attend the Buffalo Sabres' home game against the New York Islanders in an NHL showdown Friday night at the KeyBank Center before meeting Sabres forward Tage Thompson. Former Liberty player, assistant coach, and team chaplain Jake Hannon, who served as FCA's director for the Buffalo Metro Area from 2015 until this year, has worked in ministry with Thompson and set up the post-game encounter.
"It will be a great opportunity for our guys to go watch elite players in action," Handy said. "We look forward to a better effort tomorrow."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
"It was a back-and-forth game," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "I don't think we played very well. We looked like we didn't want to lose the game instead of looking like we wanted to win it. We need more of a proactive mentality (in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. rematch) than we had today."
No. 13 Niagara (9-1-1) outshot No. 6 Liberty (9-3-1) by a 31-28 margin for the game, including 15-3 in the second period. Sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch made 31 saves in regulation before stopping two of the Purple Eagles' four shootout attempts.
"Kausch was our best player tonight," Handy said. "He played great for us. We had our chances, but we have got to be better on power play (Saturday) and make sure we're executing better 5-on-5. We didn't look very dangerous out there today."
The game marked the return of junior defenseman Reid Bogenholm from an early-season shoulder surgery. He played a key role in the Flames' defensive success.
"It was good to have Reid back out there playing in his first game back, and he played pretty well," Handy said.
Early in the third period, junior defenseman Laz Kaebel launched three shots from the perimeter that were blocked by Niagara goalie Brady McEwan and didn't create any putback opportunities.
On the other end, Kausch made a spectacular diving save of a shot from the high slot. Liberty had quality counterattack chances on fast breaks before Kausch, and his defensive corps made a series of saves of close-range shots from around the cage by the Purple Eagles.
Kaebel crashed into the right post of Liberty's as he retreated to provide support on a Niagara rush as fellow junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau was checked into the backboards. Combined, they squelched the threat with Kausch standing tall between them.
In overtime, with the teams skating 4-on-4 after a penalty expired, both teams had chances but were unable to capitalize as Kausch and McEwan shut them down.
Sophomore forward Ryan Finch converted the first shootout attempt, swooping in from the left side before picketing his shot into the top-right corner of the cage. However, when freshman forward Michael Debrito and senior forward and alternate captain Jacob Kalandyk were unable to provide an insurance score, the Purple Eagles tied it up on their third attempt with Tristan Taillefer lifting a backhander from the right crease over Kausch.
Finch was stopped on his second shootout try as he tripped over the outstretched stick of McEwan and landed in the back of the net before being ejected after pushing him to the ice. That set the stage for leading scorer Charlie Belanger to net the game winner, drawing Kausch out and then deking the puck into the right crease before jamming it in as Kausch slid back into the cage.
The Flames will attend the Buffalo Sabres' home game against the New York Islanders in an NHL showdown Friday night at the KeyBank Center before meeting Sabres forward Tage Thompson. Former Liberty player, assistant coach, and team chaplain Jake Hannon, who served as FCA's director for the Buffalo Metro Area from 2015 until this year, has worked in ministry with Thompson and set up the post-game encounter.
"It will be a great opportunity for our guys to go watch elite players in action," Handy said. "We look forward to a better effort tomorrow."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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