DI Flames sweep Bobcats in back-and-forth battle with playoff-level intensity

How evenly matched were Liberty University's No. 7-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team and No. 5 Ohio University in Saturday's rematch?

For the second night in a row, the Flames battled the Bobcats to a 4-3 victory on their home ice at Bird Arena in Athens, Ohio, only this time they had to rally from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to do it.

Both teams took 40 shots on net and scored single goals in the first, second, and third periods before the Flames finally got the game winner from freshman forward Ryan Finch with 3:06 remaining in the 5-minute, sudden-death overtime period.

"(Senior forward) Brett Gammer passed it to Finch and he made a great play and buried it," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "That was nice to see. He had a strong weekend for us."

The Flames converted one of their two power-play opportunities and their penalty kill was successful in killing off all three of Ohio's man-up opportunities.

"It was a good game, back and forth," Handy said. "Our special teams were huge tonight, and they scored all three of their goals five on five."

The Flames (19-7-1) swept Ohio (23-10-3) for the second time this season after also accomplishing the feat at the LaHaye Ice Center (LIC) on Nov. 11-12. Liberty will conclude its regular season with a home-and-home series at Ohio on Feb. 22 and back in Lynchburg on Feb. 24, after hosting No. 10 Niagara this coming Friday and Saturday at the LIC.

"I was proud of our guys. That was a big one, a huge character to win," Handy said. "We want to be able to play the Ohios and Adrians and Niagaras and continue to get better. We have continued to work hard this year."

He said that hard work paid off as the Flames showed resilience in rallying from behind twice to complete the sweep, getting goals from three of their four offensive lines.

"We made mistakes tonight and we've got to clean those up as we go, but sometimes, when you make the mistakes, the hard work and the compete that you've had really comes to play," Handy said. "A guy who embodies that tonight for me was Gammer. He was great for us on the PK, and they scored a go-ahead goal with 3:55 to go to make it 3-2, and we have to battle back and come down the zone and (sophomore defenseman) Laz (Kaebel) comes down the ice with the puck and makes a pass to Gammer and he ties it up 1:04 later (with 2:51 left in regulation)."

Ohio had seized a 1-0 lead midway through the first period before Liberty tied it at 1 on a power-play goal by senior forward Jason Foltz, who finished assists from junior forward Jacob Kalandyk and junior defenseman Kevin Bite with 8:32 to play in the first.

In the second period, senior forward DJ Schwenke lifted Liberty to its first lead by putting away a pass from senior forward Nate Albers just 26 seconds after the opening faceoff for a 2-1 advantage.

The Bobcats tied it at 2 with 1:48 left in the period and seized a 3-2 lead with 3:55 remaining in regulation before Gammer and Finch went to work to manufacture the tying and winning goals.

For the second night in a row, Flames graduate goalie Hunter Virostek faced 40 shots and made 37 saves to preserve the one-goal win.

"Hunter was great all weekend for us, and he again was spectacular," Handy said. "Hunter is so solid back there.

Liberty returns to the LIC to host the Purple Eagles (17-6-2) of the ESCHL on Friday (Rock & Glow Neon Night) and Saturday (Senior Night) with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. both games.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer

DI Flames sweep Bobcats in back-and-forth battle with playoff-level intensity

Players Mentioned

Nate Albers

Kevin Bite

Ryan Finch

Jason Foltz

Brett Gammer

Jacob Kalandyk

Hunter Virostek

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