Lady Flames break through Beavers’ defense for decisive win in rematch

Friday, November 22

Lynchburg, VA

7:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Minot State University

Liberty University’s D1 Women’s Hockey team faces Minot State at Lahaye Ice Center on November 21st, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Anderson)

Senior forward and head captain Brielle Fussy (right) works alongside teammates Ellie Sarauer (8) and Haley Battles (12) in Thursday night's opener against the Beavers at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photos by Ryan Anderson)

Lady Flames break through Beavers’ defense for decisive win in rematch

11/22/2024 11:20:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

Liberty extended its winning streak to 11 games after a season-opening loss at defending ACHA DI national champion Adrian, and will look to complete a three-game sweep of national runner-up Minot State on Saturday.

For the second night in a row, Liberty University No. 1-ranked ACHA Division I women's hockey team rallied past No. 6 Minot State, Friday at the LaHaye Ice Center. After needing a last-second goal in sudden-death overtime to seal the series opener, the Lady Flames won Game 2 of the three-game series in regulation, 5-2.

Last March, the Beavers (9-5-1) advanced to the ACHA DI National Championship game by edging Liberty 2-1 in double overtime, snapping its record streak of five consecutive titles.

"They're a really good team," Lady Flames Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "They ended our season last year, and they'll be a dangerous team at nationals (in March near St. Louis). So, if we can go ahead and get a sweep (on Saturday), that would be awesome. For us to keep getting wins against quality opponents is really important."

Minot State struck first on Friday when Makena Welby scored off an assist from Cameron Schmidt, beating freshman goalie Brooklyn Adams with 6:55 left in the first period.

The Lady Flames (11-1) netted the tying goal on the power play when senior defenseman Madison Glynn received a pass from sophomore defenseman Sophia Adamek and rocketed a net-seeking missile from the right point through traffic past Beavers goalie Haylie Biever.

"Finishing that period 1-1 was big, mentally, that we fought back," Lowes said.

Liberty claimed its first lead just 46 seconds into the second period when Zosia Adamek finished a feed in front from fellow senior forward and captain Brielle Fussy for a 2-1 advantage.

"Our girls are looking creative, they're looking aggressive around the net," Lowes said. "Fussy's playing great hockey. She's been dangerous every time on the ice and even that goal by Zosia, that's Brielle out there creating. She's looked very dangerous this season."

Senior defenseman Sammy Peebles, who netted an equalizer and the game winner in Thursday's series opener, added her fourth goal of the season off assists from freshman forwards Presley Ellis and Tristan Craig for a 3-1 advantage with 8:05 remaining in the second period. Sophomore defenseman Sophia Adamek capitalized on a second power play just over a minute later, converting off an assist from Glynn to stretch the lead to 4-1.

"It was really important for our power play to get going," Lowes said. "(On Friday), Minot's PK gave us fits and we made a couple adjustments and looked a lot more comfortable, both on the power play and the penalty kill."

Liberty outshot Minot by a near two-to-one margin, 47-24, and converted on two of its five power-play opportunities while holding the Beavers scoreless on their three chances.

Minot State changed goalies after giving up a fourth goal, bringing in Jillian Ackerman to replace Biever, and she seemed to give the Beavers new life by saving a series of shots from close range.

Late in the second period, Minot caught the Lady Flames' defense by surprise when Paige Kozak stole the puck and netted a shorthanded goal on a shot that barely trickled past Adams, trimming the gap to 4-2 at the 2:14 mark.

"Obviously, the second period I thought we did some awesome things," Lowes said. "We won the period, 3-1, but they got that shorthanded goal, which you hate to give those up."

The Lady Flames netted the only goal of the third period with freshman Brooke Olson scoring her second of the season, unassisted from close range in front.

"Our girls battled through and went and got that insurance marker," Lowes said. "We did some different things tonight with our forwards and we liked some of the things we saw. Overall, it was a really good performance. We'll continue to tinker and just try to look for that chemistry and the right connections."

The Beavers will be eager to salvage a split in Saturday's series finale, with the puck set to drop at 7:30 p.m. in the LIC.

"Both teams will be empty in the tank, and we'll see a little bit about conditioning for these three-game weekends," Lowes said, noting that the Lady Flames have already played 10 games in November and are looking forward to Thanksgiving Break. "I think we'll see a good performance from this group. We've had enough reps now, and our conditioning is there after these last couple weeks."

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