Flames force second straight tie with Purple Eagles, who win another shootout

Saturday, November 2

Niagara Falls, NY

1:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Niagara University

Senior forward and alternate captain Jacob Kalandyk, shown in a home game against Niagara last season, assisted the Flames' first goal, scored by linemate Jackson Vercellono. (Photo by Brooke McDuffee)

Flames force second straight tie with Purple Eagles, who win another shootout

11/2/2024 7:57:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

Liberty extended its record to 9-3-2 with two ties at Niagara before returning to Lynchburg, Va., to host No. 4 Ohio University next weekend.

Liberty University's No. 6-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team netted two goals in the second stanza to rally from a 2-0 first-period deficit and force overtime for the second straight afternoon, Saturday at No. 13 Niagara University's Dwyer Arena.

After five minutes of scoreless action with the teams skating 3-on-3, the game officially ended as a 2-2 tie, but for the second time in a row the Purple Panthers (11-1) won the ensuing shootout over the Flames (9-3-2).

Niagara seized an early lead on a quick counterattack when Tristan Taillefer pounced on a loose puck sprung by teammate Charlie Belanger after a failed Flames clearing attempt. Taillefer spurted through the slot before threading a shot past Liberty sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch from point-blank range for a 1-0 edge.

Niagara doubled its lead moments later when Cullen McCormick ripped a shot from the top of the left circle that was deflected past Kausch by Adam Sojka, who was cutting across the left crease, for a 2-0 advantage.

The Flames had a few close chances around the Purple Eagles' cage but couldn't find the back of the net. On the other end, Kausch repelled a few more quality shots, including a flurry from different angles around the cage.

Soon after surviving that scare, Kausch got tangled up with one of his defensemen and was taken down hard in the blue ice and had to be removed from the contest, with junior goalie Nicholas Bernstein replacing him between the pipes.

"I really liked the way we battled back today," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "They scored those two goals within about five minutes of each other in the first before we battled back and had to face some adversity when Konrad got hurt and Bernstein came in and played well."

Midway through the second period, graduate forward Jackson Vercellono worked a beautiful give-and-go pass sequence to senior forward and alternate captain Jacob Kalandyk, who maneuvered the puck through the slot with some dazzling stick skills before sending a backhanded return pass to Vercellono for a one-time finish in the right crease.

That pulled the Flames back within 2-1 at the 10:40 mark before Liberty netted the equalizer later in the period. Junior defenseman Laz Kaebel received a feed from sophomore forward Mason Smith after a faceoff won by junior forward and head captain Sam Feamster and launched a howitzer of a shot from the high slot that rocketed past Niagara goalie Jacob Dubinsky.

"That was a great faceoff win by Sam," Handy said. "That's where it all started before Mason bumped it back to the point."

After a scoreless third period and overtime, in which Bernstein (31 saves) stopped back-to-back one-on-one chances by the Purple Eagles, the game was declared a draw with a shootout used as the ceremonial tie-breaker.

Dubinsky repelled freshman forward Liam Cox-Smith's backhanded attempt in the first round of the shootout before Bernstein rejected Taillefer's try. Freshman forward Michael DeBrito's shot toward the top-right corner was stopped by Dubinsky's glove before Bernstein made a great kick save of Belanger's backhand attempt.

Flames sophomore forward Ryan Finch's swooping approach from the right side and shot from the slot was blocked by Dubinsky before Niagara's AJ Vasko deked the puck in front and beat Bernstein with a backhand for the golden goal of the shootout.

"Our PK was excellent all weekend," Handy said after the Flames killed off all three power play chances by the Purple Eagles, who held a 44-35 shot advantage. "We played pretty well in the third and had some chances. They just weren't able to go for us so it was recorded as a tie and you move forward. Overall, so many positives came out of the road trip on and off the ice. We'll come back, continue to grow, continue to learn, continue to get better."

Liberty will return to the LaHaye Ice Center this coming Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. against No. 4 Ohio, with the opener also serving as Military Appreciation Night.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer