DII Flames sweep Southeast Region rival Eagles to go to 4-0

Saturday, September 21

Lynchburg, VA

1:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Florida Gulf Coast University

Flames senior goalie Lane Skon makes a stick save behind sophomore defenseman Cade Pawluk (6) against FGCU on Saturday at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photos byt Ryan Anderson)

DII Flames sweep Southeast Region rival Eagles to go to 4-0

9/22/2024 5:13:00 PM | Men's D2 Hockey

After finishing the 2023-24 season second to FGCU in the regional rankings, Liberty established an early-season lead in the race for an autobid to nationals.

Gallery: (9-22-2024) DII men's hockey vs. FGCU

Junior forward Josh Martin's power-play putback with 7:35 remaining in regulation lifted Liberty University's ACHA Division II men's hockey team to a 6-5 triumph that completed a sweep of Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday afternoon at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"It's a huge statement weekend for us as a team," Flames senior goalie Lane Skon said. "At the end of the day, we all came together as a unit and we responded super well. Every time they had some momentum or push on us, we had the right response. Fully as a team, we really invested and played our brand of hockey (and) it was a huge couple of wins for us."

The Eagles (1-2) and Flames (4-0) ended the 2023-24 season ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the Southeast Region and earned the two autobids to the ACHA DII National Championships in St. Louis.

"Those are the games you live to play for and any time we have the chance to face a No. 1 or No. 2 in our (region) like that, we're excited and ready to be focused the whole game," Skon said. "Those games are tough because when things aren't really going your way, whenever we get that chance and have the momentum, it's super important for me to find my focus and stay dialed in and trust that the rest of the team is going to be there with me."

The Flames had taken Saturday afternoon's series opener, 4-2, getting second-period goals from junior forwards Antonio Vidal and Mark Padgett and sophomore forward Luke Padgett as well as a 36-save performance out of Skon.

Senior forward Jared Matley stretched Liberty's lead to 4-1 Saturday by finishing assists from Thomas Kayner and Mark Padgett early in the third period before FGCU got one goal back on a 6-on-4 advantage with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. The Flames outshot the Eagles, 49-38 for the contest.

On Sunday, Mark Padgett gave Liberty a 3-2 lead in the second period before junior defenseman Connor Diem padded it to 5-3 early in the third. However, the Eagles swooped in to tie the contest on back-to-back goals in a three-minute span with 15:32 left to play.

"They're a very skilled team, very fast in transition and they do their best to try to capitalize on any opportunity they have, which makes it where we have to be on edge the whole game," Skon said.

Martin was in the right place at the right time in the right crease for his top-shelf rebound of a perimeter shot that proved to be the game-winning goal.

"Special teams was huge tonight," Skon said. "Those are times in the game where we really have a chance to shift the momentum. A good penalty kill can swing it toward us and a good power play can do the same. We really capitalized on those opportunities."

Liberty will next face FGCU on Jan. 26, in the final game of the Miami (Ohio) Showcase, before potentially seeing the Eagles again at nationals in St. Louis in mid-March.

The Flames are off next weekend before traveling to the Concordia Wisconsin Showcase from Oct. 4-6 when they will challenge the host Falcons on Friday at 6:30 p.m. EST as well as the University of St. Thomas on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. EST and reigning ACHA DII national champion Indiana on Sunday at 10 a.m. EST.

Liberty will try to start the season 5-0 for the first time since going 31-3-1 in 2019-20, when the national championships were canceled by COVID-19.

"At the end of the day, all that we do is for the glory of God," Skon said. "None of it is for selfish gain. Whenever we go out there, we're giving our best and letting God do the rest and praying that whatever comes from the game we have a chance to glorify Him at the end and try to be representative to everyone of what He's done for us."

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