DII Lady Flames cap regular season with 1-0-1 showing vs. Lawrence Tech, solidify No. 4 ranking in Southeast Region

Friday, February 9

Lynchburg, VA

4:15 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Lawrence Technological University

Senior wing Hunter DiGrazia controls the puck in front of freshman forward Kathryn Kornek (92) and Lawrence Tech players during Saturday afternoon's rematch at the LaHaye Ice Center, a 2-0 Liberty triumph. (Photos by Jacob Summersgill)

DII Lady Flames cap regular season with 1-0-1 showing vs. Lawrence Tech, solidify No. 4 ranking in Southeast Region

2/12/2024 8:36:00 PM | Women's D2 Hockey

Ranked fourth in the Southeast Region, Liberty strengthened its chances for a bid to the March 12-16 ACHA DII National Championships in St. Louis, which follow the Feb. 24-25 DVCHC Playoffs in Delaware.

Gallery: (2-12-2024) DII women's hockey vs. Lawrence Tech

In a regular-season-ending battle between the No. 4 teams in the Southeast and Central region rankings, Liberty University's ACHA Division II women's hockey team went 1-0-1 against Lawrence Tech (Mich.) University to improve to 8-2-1 at the LaHaye Ice Center this year.

After the Lady Flames (11-6-2) allowed the Blue Devils (14-9-2) to tie Friday's opener in the closing 35 seconds and settled for a 3-3 tie after a scoreless 5-minute overtime period, Liberty bounced back with a 2-0 win in Saturday's rematch.

Liberty honored its six seniors before the afternoon puck drop, with posters in the foyer, jerseys hanging over the railing atop the north goal, and red-carpet introductions for defenseman Brynlee Anderson, goalies Alex Ritter and Kylie Mebs, who played most of her career on the Lady Flames DI squad, and forwards Hunter DiGrazia, Dominique Duenas, and Laura Arfstrom, who also started on the DI squad.

The Lady Flames opened a 2-0 lead in the first period of Game 1 on goals by Isabel Gracia off an assist from fellow junior forward Madison Gaddy with 13:42 left in the first period, and freshman wing Cora Williams unassisted at the 6:03 mark.

Lawrence Tech pulled back within 2-1 on the only goal of the second period before tying it at 2 on the 28th goal of the season by Sophia Buckberger early in the third. Liberty reclaimed a 3-2 lead on sophomore center Isabel Crossman's goal assisted by sophomore forward Guinivere Donovan with 2:15 remaining in regulation. But the Blue Devils retied it 1:40 later, forcing the scoreless overtime period.

Liberty outshot Lawrence Tech 39-24 and sophomore goalie Abigail Hodsden made 21 saves in the tie.

Midway through the first period of Saturday's rematch, Williams netted her 10th goal of the season, and her first game winner, set up by junior defenseman Madison Natter. The Lady Flames added an empty netter by sophomore forward Kate Walhof with 10 seconds to go in the third.

Liberty outshot the Blue Devils, 31-28, and freshman goalie Abigail Manzewitsch made 28 saves to post the shutout in her first 60 minutes of the season.

The Lady Flames will next travel to the DVCHC Championships set for Feb. 24-25 in Harrington, Del. If they remain in the top five of the Southeast Region rankings, they will automatically qualify for the March 12-16 national championships in St. Louis.

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