DII Flames split with Bobcats; await Lions in spring semester-opening series

Friday, December 6

Lynchburg, VA

4:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Ohio University

Liberty freshman forward Anthony Emme skates the puck along the boards at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Ryan Anderson)

DII Flames split with Bobcats; await Lions in spring semester-opening series

12/9/2024 4:38:00 PM | Men's D2 Hockey

Ranked No. 2 in the Southeast Region, Liberty salvaged a split against No. 3 Ohio sparked by head captain Josh Harrell's two goals.

In a showdown between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the Southeast Region rankings, Liberty University's ACHA Division II men's hockey team salvaged a split in this past weekend's series at the LaHaye Ice Center (LIC). The No. 2 Flames (13-7-2) overcame a 3-1 setback in Friday's opener by turning the tables on the No. 3 Bobcats (13-2-1) with a 4-1 triumph in Saturday's rematch.

Senior forward Josh Harrell started the scoring on a power play in Saturday's second game, barely deflecting freshman forward Anthony Emme's shot from the top of the right circle through traffic past Ohio goalie Matthew Zazon for a 1-0 Liberty lead with 8:20 to play in the first period.

The Bobcats struck back on a power-play opportunity at the 12:15 mark of the second period when Ethan Tamborski ripped a long rebound in the high slot that trickled past Flames senior keeper Lane Skon.

The Flames reclaimed the lead on a second goal by a Harrell, who was left wide open as he trailed through the slot on a fast break and received a delayed crossing feed from fellow senior forward Roman Lamoureux for the finish with 2:59 to play in the period.

A minute and a half into the third, sophomore defenseman Macguire Graham added an insurance score for a 3-1 advantage after receiving a pass from junior forward Antonio Vidal and weaving through Ohio defensemen as he skated across the blue line and into the slot.

Vidal capped the scoring less than four minutes later with a similar goal, taking an outlet pass from junior forward Thomas Kayner near his blue line before skating through the neutral zone and launching a shot from the top of the left circle, that beat Zazon to the top-left corner.

Ohio outshot Liberty by a 33-32 margin, and the Flames' penalty kill unit was successful in stopping seven of eight opportunities by the Bobcats.

In Friday's opener, Ohio scored its first two goals — by Nik Jozefiak and Nick Coward — on the power play in a three-and-a-half-minute span of the second period. A third player with that surname capped the Bobcats' scoring with 16:02 to go in the third period when Nic Capuzzi netted his first goal of the season for a 3-0 advantage.

Liberty answered less than two and a half minutes later with junior forward Mark Padgett's team-high 14th goal of the season, a left-circle putback of senior forward Luke Tucker shot from the left point set up by sophomore forward Luke Padgett, but both teams were held scoreless for the final 13:43.

The Bobcats outshot the Flames by a 28-25 margin, and sophomore goalie Christian Sehlke made 25 saves in defeat.

After Winter Break, Liberty will open spring semester action by hosting Lindenwood (Mo.) University, ranked No. 1 in the Central Region, on Jan. 10-11 at the LIC. The Lions (19-1-1) swept the Flames by 4-2 and 5-4 scores Nov. 8-9 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo., where they had eliminated Liberty in the final round of pool play last March 13 at the ACHA DII National Championships.

Videos edited by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media