Lady Flames outworked by Beavers, who net Game 3 winner late in third period

Saturday, November 23

Lynchburg, VA

7:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Minot State University

Lady Flames graduate forward Peyton Carle is taken down from behind by Minot State's Karlyn Gutz in Thursday night's series opener at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Ryan Anderson)

Lady Flames outworked by Beavers, who net Game 3 winner late in third period

11/23/2024 11:40:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

Looking to complete a three-game sweep of Minot State, which ended its streak of national titles in the semifinals last spring, Liberty scored in the first minute of Saturday's finale, but was shut out for the final 59.

Lacking its usual finishing touch around the net, on the tail end of its third straight three-game weekend, Liberty University's No. 1-ranked ACHA Division I women's hockey team allowed No. 6 Minot State (N.D.) University to salvage a 1-2 split with a dramatic 2-1 upset Saturday night at the LaHaye Ice Center.

The Beavers (10-5-3) took advantage of a poorly timed line change by Liberty (11-2) to pounce on a loose puck near the Lady Flames' bench and cycle it around the cage before Abby Tallman netted the game winner from deep in the slot with 2:28 remaining in regulation.

"We were in a 1-1 game, prepping for overtime, and that's just how quick it changes," Liberty Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "We failed to get a puck deep and they came down, a quick bing-bang play, and we just watched it. You've just got to be ready for that. We talk about that. You never know when the player you're defending is going to have a shot at a puck on a wide-open net, and that's why we've got to defend tougher."

Lowes pulled junior goalie Alex Keith for the final minute, but Liberty was unable to mount a serious threat around the Beavers' net.

Minot, which ended the Lady Flames' ACHA-record string of five consecutive national titles by ousting them by the same 2-1 final in double overtime in the semifinal round last March near St. Louis, snapped Liberty's 11-game winning streak after starting the season with a loss at defending national champion Adrian (Mich.) College.

"It was a disappointing end to what was a really good weekend for us," Lowes said. "Minot's a really good team and give them credit. They looked like the team that was 2-0 coming in. Arguably, we woke the beast. That team's going to be buzzing all year. They outplayed us today. They outworked us in a lot of battles. We just didn't have it. I can't explain that as a coach, and we're kind of curious about that. Is it conditioning? Is it motivation? It was not a good look for us, and I don't think anyone in that locker room thinks we gave it our best shot today."

Liberty outshot Minot by a 46-27 margin but didn't generate as many quality shots as the Beavers did.

"We got good chances, we just need to work on our finish a little bit," Lady Flames senior forward and alternate captain Zosia Adamek said. "We definitely need to work on dialing in and shooting to score and getting our shovels out in front of the net, getting those rebounds. Hopefully, it will come with time."

Liberty senior forward and alternate captain Haley Battles started the scoring 52 seconds after the opening faceoff on a top-shelf putback of an initial shot by junior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp.

"That was a great goal by Battles, but we scored on the second shift and didn't score again," Lowes said. "We weren't very good. There's no excuse. We just didn't have it today."

The Beavers netted the equalizer with 7:40 left in the period on a fast-break finish by forward Krissy Rink, who beat Keith on the backhand side.

Early in the second period, Minot defenseman Abby Pineau struck a crossbar with a shot that deflected off Keith's shoulder.

In the final minute, Beavers defenseman Addison Dyck sent a shot from the high slot that Rink deflected in front, but Keith made a low pad save, and the scoreless period ended locked in a 1-1 tie.

Three minutes into the third, Beavers goalie Jillian Ackerman denied Lady Flames sophomore forward Ellie Sarauer on a driving shot from the right endline and two putback chances in front.

Later, graduate defenseman Peyton Carle had her shot from the right point glance off Ackerman's glove and the top of the cage at the 11:00 mark. But Liberty didn't get many more high-percentage shots down the stretch and allowed the Beavers to go to work in their zone.

"It's hockey and you play good teams and hockey's a game of mistakes and we made lots of them and they capitalized on theirs and we didn't," Lowes said. "We didn't look very dangerous around the net. We had lots of shots and action, but not a lot of traffic and rebounds. But what do they say? You learn more from a loss than a win, if we're trying to find a silver lining.

Adamek believes the loss will provide the incentive the Lady Flames need to finish the semester strongly and head into the spring with renewed sense of purpose and resolve to fine-tune all areas of their games.

"It gives a lot of motivation," she said. "It shows that it's not easy to win. We actually have to show up and work for it. Something we have to work on as a team is the mental side, but hopefully over the break, we'll be able to look back on video and regroup for next week."

After Thanksgiving Break, Liberty will conclude the fall semester schedule by hosting Niagara University, coached by former Lady Flames defenseman Julia McDonald ('23), on Dec. 5-6 at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"The last thing you want to do after a loss is have a break, and we get a long one," Lowes said. "I wish we could play tomorrow, just to get back on the winning streak."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer