No. 1 Lady Flames survive first-round scare from No. 10 Sun Devils, await semifinal showdown with No. 4 Beavers

Liberty University's No. 1-seeded, five-time-defending ACHA Division I national championship women's hockey team got more of an opening-game test than it bargained for in Friday night's dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind quarterfinal victory over No. 10 Arizona State in the Centene Community Ice Center's NHL Arena.

In the end, the Lady Flames (22-4-2) lived to play another day after netting the equalizer against the Sun Devils (22-5-1) with just over two minutes remaining in regulation and the game winner late in the first 20-minute overtime period.

"It was definitely stressful, but our team knew we could do it," said Liberty junior forward Zosia Adamek, who netted the game winner in overtime. "I could feel in my heart just getting down a little bit, but you've just got to keep going, pick yourself up, keep persevering and it just pays off. We just kept on checking and forechecking and just kept on battling and finally popped one, so it was good."

The triumph sends the Lady Flames to Saturday's 8 p.m. EST semifinal against No. 4 Minot State in a rematch of last year's championship game.

"We know them quite well," Liberty Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "We had a heck of a matchup with them out in North Dakota this year (splitting the Oct. 13-14 series), so I expect much of the same."

The Lady Flames had dominated their last series against Arizona State by 10-2 and 8-2 scores before Christmas Break last season in Tempe, Ariz.

"We played ASU last year, but this is playoffs," Lowes said. "Give a ton of credit to them and then obviously their goalie played well. There were certainly times when we had the better of it, but when you look at it, it came down to special teams. We needed both of those power-play goals and Zosia was there to get the one that we really needed in overtime. It's just about keeping the pressure on. Eventually, they're going to make a mistake."

Emerson-Oakes-Liberty-defenseman — Sophomore defenseman Emerson Oakes and her teammates withstood their share of pressure from Arizona State throughout the game.

Liberty threatened at the end of the first period, when junior defenseman Madison Glynn fired shots from the point and the high slot deflected just wide right of the net and gloved by Arizona State goalie Quinn Eatinger, respectively. Moments later, sophomore defenseman Emerson Oakes' shot from the top of the left circle was tipped just wide of the right post by graduate forward and head captain Rianna Spanier.

Liberty capitalized on its second power-play opportunity of the second period when junior forward Brielle Fussy cleaned up a loose puck after a shot by Adamek from the top of the right circle, sneaking behind Eatinger to put it away for a 1-0 lead with 6:46 to go.

They continued to pressure the puck and generated a few more quality scoring chances in five-on-five action from close around the cage, but Eatinger held her ground and kept it a one-goal game.

Lady Flames sophomore goalie Alex Keith made some clutch saves on the other end, including blocking a wide-open shot in the slot. But Liberty outshot the Sun Devils, 21-5 in the first period and 20-5 in the second on their way to a 70-27 margin for the contest.

"There's lots to like about today's effort, except maybe our lack of finish," Lowes said. "We had a couple breakaways, a couple partial breakaways, a couple odd-man rushes. Just proud of the group. They found a way and we faced a lot of adversity."

Trailing only 1-0 going into the final period, the Sun Devils struck twice in a span of 12 seconds early in the third to seize a 2-1 lead on goals by Tristan Craig assisted by Haley Martin at the 18:37 mark and Sydney Paulsen assisted by Anita Fleming with 18:25 to play.

"Obviously, to give up those two quick goals, it feels like the world's caving in, but our girls had resolve and they found a way," Lowes said.

Liberty put a couple quality shots on net, including two by freshman forward Sienna McClinchey that was saved by the low blocker of Eatinger in the left corner. The Lady Flames went on a power play with 2:32 remaining in regulation and converted the equalizer 15 seconds later when freshman defenseman Sophia Adamek's shot from point-blank range hit the left post and Spanier poked in the loose puck from the right side, tying it at 2.

"Our captain (Spanier), she just played unreal," Zosia Adamek said. "She kept our team grounded and it was great to have someone to look up to like that."

Keith stood tall to save a high, hard shot through the right circle by Paulsen early in the overtime before Eatinger saved back-to-back shots from the left and right sides on a two-on-one fast break.
ASU had a couple early opportunities on a power play before Liberty countered with two shorthanded chances of their own. Keith made a clutch save of a shot that appeared destined for the five-hole before graduate forward Yannick Truter had a golden shot at the game winner in the left crease blocked by Eatinger.

ASU nearly finished off a crossing pass to a player posted right in front, but it skipped through, giving the Lady Flames a reprieve. They blazed around the Sun Devils' net for the next three minutes but couldn't get the puck past Eatinger (67 saves), though Adamek had a shot hit the post and saved by Eatinger.

Keith made a crucial save of a breakaway chance by Paulsen, who crashed into the cage as the puck dropped just in front of the goal line, stopping play. After a timeout, Lady Flames Head Coach Chris Lowes lit a fire in his players and they came out and scored on their next possession, with Zosia Adamek launching a shot from the top of the right circle and punching in the rebound of a sophomore forward Brookelyn Beauchamp's follow with a backhanded game winner with 2:17 left in the first 20-minute, sudden-death overtime.

"At the end of the day, we kind of ran them out of gas and were able to apply enough pressure and we finally got one," Lowes said. "We're just happy to get a nationals win, and we survive until (Saturday). We've got to be better tomorrow. As teams make it further, they start feeling the vibes and we've got to build on that."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media

Madison-Glynn-point-shot — Junior defenseman Madison Glynn, who netted a hat trick in last year's final, looks to take a shot in the high slot against the Sun Devils.

No. 1 Lady Flames survive first-round scare from No. 10 Sun Devils, await semifinal showdown with No. 4 Beavers

Players Mentioned

Sophia Adamek

Zosia Adamek

Brookelyn Beauchamp

Brielle Fussy

Madison Glynn

Sienna McClinchey

Emerson Oakes

Rianna Spanier

Yannick Truter

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