Thursday, November 7
Chesterfield, MO
9:15 PM
Liberty University Club Sports
4
at
1
Midland University
Sophomore defenseman Sophia Adamek skates the puck away from a Midland player in last season's WMCH Championship game. (Photo by Jacob Summersgill)
No. 1 Lady Flames ride special teams past No. 6 Midland in WMCH Showcase opener
11/8/2024 9:45:00 AM | Women's D1 Hockey
Liberty scored three power-play goals and one shorthander to open a 4-0 lead on the Warriors en route to a 4-1 triumph before facing host Maryville on Friday night.
Two days after being deemed the No. 1 team in the nation again in this week's rankings, Liberty University's ACHA Division I women's hockey team validated that claim with a decisive 4-1 win over No. 6 Midland (Neb.) University late Thursday night in the Women's Midwest College Hockey Showcase at the Maryville University Ice Center in Chesterfield, Mo.
"This was our team's first game defending the No. 1 seed, which is something we're embracing, to be our best every night and play as the more desperate team," Lady Flames Head Coach Chris Lowes said.
Last season, while ranked No. 1, the Lady Flames were swept by the second-ranked Warriors in Nebraska on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. That marked the first time any team had accomplished that feat in more than six seasons. However, Liberty reclaimed its WMCH Tournament Championship from Midland in the final at the LaHaye Ice Center for its fourth title in the league's five years of existence.
On Thursday, the Lady Flames (4-1) scored all of their goals on special teams, starting with senior forward Zosia Adamek's shorthanded breakaway in the second period off an assist from graduate defenseman Peyton Carle at the 15:40 mark.
The rest of the goals were scored on power plays, as Liberty finished 3-for-4 with a player advantage and the Warriors went 1-for-6.
"It was good to see our power play get going, quarterbacked by (senior defenseman) Madison Glynn up top, who put pucks on net and got a couple good redirections," Lowes said. "Special teams is something we have been emphasizing in practice, and our power play has been slowly progressing over the last three weekends, since (splitting with) Adrian. (Midland) had a couple more power play opportunities. Five on five it was pretty evenly matched, and I would maybe even give them the edge, but special teams were on our side tonight."
Glynn doubled Liberty's lead to 2-0 with 5:21 to play in the first period by putting away passes from sophomore defenseman Sophia Adamek and sophomore forward Ellie Sarauer.
Then in the third period, Glynn assisted a second power-play goal with a shot from the high slot that senior forward and head captain Brielle Fussy deflected past Midland goalie Meghan Stewart for a 3-0 lead with 12:09 remaining in regulation. Finally, with the Lady Flames back on the 5-on-4, Zosia Adamek stretched the advantage to 4-0 by tipping junior defenseman Brookelyn Beauchamp's shot from the point past Stewart with 10:53 to play.
"That was a great performance by her," Lowes said of Adamek, who scored two goals for the second game in a row after doing the same to help the Lady Flames complete a sweep of then-No. 1 Maryville last weekend at the LIC.
Keagan Shearer ended Liberty junior goalie Alex Keith's shutout bid with 2:43 left by capitalizing on Midland's sixth and final power-play opportunity.
"That was the only negative on the night," Lowes said. "Overall, it was a pretty strong game. It was good to put it in the win column and keep moving on."
The Warriors actually outshot the Lady Flames, 25-21, and Keith made 24 saves to improve to 3-1 and maintain her 0.99 goals-against average and 96.5 save percentage.
Liberty players voted senior defenseman Sammy Peebles the team's player of the game.
The Lady Flames will play their third game in seven days against Maryville on Friday at 9:15 p.m. on its home ice.
"(The Saints are) the No. 2 seed now after we stole it from them, but it's going to be another 1-2 battle," Lowes said.
Liberty will conclude the WMCH Showcase against No. 14 Jamestown (N.D.) University on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. before Keith, both Adamek sisters, Glynn, and senior forward Haley Battles represent the Lady Flames in the second WMCH All-Star Game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
"This was our team's first game defending the No. 1 seed, which is something we're embracing, to be our best every night and play as the more desperate team," Lady Flames Head Coach Chris Lowes said.
Last season, while ranked No. 1, the Lady Flames were swept by the second-ranked Warriors in Nebraska on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. That marked the first time any team had accomplished that feat in more than six seasons. However, Liberty reclaimed its WMCH Tournament Championship from Midland in the final at the LaHaye Ice Center for its fourth title in the league's five years of existence.
On Thursday, the Lady Flames (4-1) scored all of their goals on special teams, starting with senior forward Zosia Adamek's shorthanded breakaway in the second period off an assist from graduate defenseman Peyton Carle at the 15:40 mark.
The rest of the goals were scored on power plays, as Liberty finished 3-for-4 with a player advantage and the Warriors went 1-for-6.
"It was good to see our power play get going, quarterbacked by (senior defenseman) Madison Glynn up top, who put pucks on net and got a couple good redirections," Lowes said. "Special teams is something we have been emphasizing in practice, and our power play has been slowly progressing over the last three weekends, since (splitting with) Adrian. (Midland) had a couple more power play opportunities. Five on five it was pretty evenly matched, and I would maybe even give them the edge, but special teams were on our side tonight."
Glynn doubled Liberty's lead to 2-0 with 5:21 to play in the first period by putting away passes from sophomore defenseman Sophia Adamek and sophomore forward Ellie Sarauer.
Then in the third period, Glynn assisted a second power-play goal with a shot from the high slot that senior forward and head captain Brielle Fussy deflected past Midland goalie Meghan Stewart for a 3-0 lead with 12:09 remaining in regulation. Finally, with the Lady Flames back on the 5-on-4, Zosia Adamek stretched the advantage to 4-0 by tipping junior defenseman Brookelyn Beauchamp's shot from the point past Stewart with 10:53 to play.
"That was a great performance by her," Lowes said of Adamek, who scored two goals for the second game in a row after doing the same to help the Lady Flames complete a sweep of then-No. 1 Maryville last weekend at the LIC.
Keagan Shearer ended Liberty junior goalie Alex Keith's shutout bid with 2:43 left by capitalizing on Midland's sixth and final power-play opportunity.
"That was the only negative on the night," Lowes said. "Overall, it was a pretty strong game. It was good to put it in the win column and keep moving on."
The Warriors actually outshot the Lady Flames, 25-21, and Keith made 24 saves to improve to 3-1 and maintain her 0.99 goals-against average and 96.5 save percentage.
Liberty players voted senior defenseman Sammy Peebles the team's player of the game.
The Lady Flames will play their third game in seven days against Maryville on Friday at 9:15 p.m. on its home ice.
"(The Saints are) the No. 2 seed now after we stole it from them, but it's going to be another 1-2 battle," Lowes said.
Liberty will conclude the WMCH Showcase against No. 14 Jamestown (N.D.) University on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. before Keith, both Adamek sisters, Glynn, and senior forward Haley Battles represent the Lady Flames in the second WMCH All-Star Game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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