Four newcomers net first goals to bolster DI Lady Flames’ attack in sweep of HTI

Saturday, September 21

Lynchburg, VA

7:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Hockey Training Institute

Freshman goalie Brooklyn Adams prepares to cover the puck after blocking a shot by the HTI Stars on Sunday at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photos by Ted Allen)

Four newcomers net first goals to bolster DI Lady Flames’ attack in sweep of HTI

9/22/2024 5:39:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

Liberty won the series by a combined score of 15-3 with freshman goalie Brooklyn Adams making more saves in the rematch than junior Alex Keith had to in the opener.

Gallery: (9-22-2024) Liberty DI women vs. HTI

Liberty University's ACHA Division I women's hockey team dominated Hockey Training Institute's (HTI) Tier-I travel team from Ontario, Canada, on Saturday, winning 11-1, before withstanding a much better test from the Stars in Sunday's 4-2 triumph to complete the sweep in the LaHaye Ice Center and improve to 3-0 in its preseason.

After a scoreless first period, Hayley Lee started the scoring with her first goal as a Lady Flame late in the second stanza of Saturday afternoon's rematch, finishing feeds from fellow freshman forward Chloe Lownsbury and senior forward Isabella Hervert at the 5:34 mark.

"They definitely put the gas on and were going at us a lot harder, which was a great test for our team," said freshman forward Presley Ellis, who was named player of the game by her coaches. "Especially after the first period, being tied at 0-0, we really had to push to get that win today. We've just got to keep moving our momentum forward."

Sophomore defenseman Ellie Sarauer doubled Liberty's lead by putting away passes from senior defenseman Sammy Peebles and senior forward and head captain Brielle Fussy with 15:31 left in the second period.

After HTI trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a point-blank putback in the left crease at the 10:32 mark, Lady Flames senior forward Zosia Adamek received assists from Sarauer and junior defenseman Emerson Oakes and skated into the high slot before unleashing a wrist shot into the upper netting to give the Lady Flames a 3-1 advantage with 9:45 to play.

Then, with 6:51 to go, junior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp stretched the edge to 4-1 off assists from Adamek and Ellis before HTI capped the scoring.

"I've got to give a lot of thanks to my linemates, Zosia (Adamek) and Hayley (Lee), they had great offensive pressure," Ellis said. "(Lee) came in as a left-winger and worked really well with us, adding good team chemistry. She had a great first goal today. She's been really gritty in front of the net and moving her legs really well and overall playing amazing, so I'm glad she got rewarded."

"We are really excited for her start to the year and her career," Lowes added of Lee. "It was good to see (freshman goalie) Brooklyn Adams get her first start and her first win. She got a much tougher opponent than (junior goalie Alex) Keith did (Saturday). That's good for her."
He said the Lady Flames showed flashes of brilliance, but also plenty of areas in need of improvement.

"There's tons of positives, (we were) just very inconsistent," Lowes said. "Special teams, we gave up two goals on our PK and our power play wasn't very good. We were a little undisciplined tonight and penalties cost us because we were plus-4 in five-on-five and minus-2 on special teams."
Lowes and Assistant Coach Mike Morrison agreed that HTI made quite a few adjustments to counter Liberty's offensive execution from Saturday night.

"That's kind of what we anticipated from HTI," Lowes said. "We knew that was a better team. We didn't finish some of our chances like we did (Saturday). All in all, it was a good game and that's why we play these games. We're getting better and got some really good video."
Ellis and fellow freshman forward Patricia Misiak both contributed their first two goals and sophomore forward Tristan Craig also netted her first as a Lady Flame in Saturday's lopsided victory.

"It was really nice to see girls finishing because we've had plenty of games in my time where we outshoot a team 3-to-1 and don't have anything to show for it," Lowes said.

"Great offensive pressure by our whole team," Ellis added. "We had a great forecheck and really were on them and overall had a great game. We've been working really hard as a team, forechecking, power play, penalty kill, trying to really build some team chemistry so I expect a lot of team success in the future."

Next Saturday and Sunday, the Lady Flames will host their last two exhibition games against Purcell Hockey Academy, a collegiate preparatory program in British Columbia, Canada. Liberty will then have nearly a month to prepare for its ACHA DI opening series at defending national champion Adrian (Mich.) College on Oct. 25-26.

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