Reloaded Flames overcome Purple Eagles in OT well after midnight

Friday, January 24

Lynchburg, VA

11:59 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Niagara University

Sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch keeps his eyes on the puck as junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau tries to clear it. (Photos by Simone Barbre)

Reloaded Flames overcome Purple Eagles in OT well after midnight

1/25/2025 10:19:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey

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Liberty snapped a four-game skid in games decided after regulation on Tucker Shields' sudden-death score early in the overtime period.

Gallery: (1-25-2025) Liberty vs. Niagara Midnight Mayhem

Just 23 seconds into the 5:00 sudden-death overtime, freshman forward Tucker Shields capitalized on a left-to-right-circle feed from junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau for a one-timed game winner over the shoulder of Niagara goalie Brady McEwan, sparking a jubilant celebration over the 2-1 triumph early Saturday morning at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"It's always nice to win," Shields said. "Our fans are the best. They came here at midnight, I'm sure they were a bit tired, but they brought an unbelievable amount of energy, so I know we're really thankful for all of them."

The Flames ended a four-game losing skid in games decided beyond the regulation 60 minutes, exacting a measure of revenge against the Purple Eagles (15-4-2), who swept the Flames (15-5-4) in back-to-back shootouts last fall in New York.

"(Pomerleau) made a great play and (freshman forward Hayden) DeMars had a great shift as well," Shields said. "I was fortunate to have the nice pass at a really opportune time, but realistically, my teammates played their hearts out."

"It's huge," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy added. "You obviously want to win those games in regulation, but … sometimes, you have to find a way to win these games, and we found a way tonight."

Shields was thankful to have the five teammates back from representing Team USA at the Jan. 13-23 FISU Winter World University Games in Italy, including sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch, who started the majority of minutes between the pipes in Italy and made 35 saves to dam up Niagara, which outshot Liberty 36-28.

"Give credit to Konrad," Shields said. "What an unbelievable game he had coming off of a terrific performance in Italy. All the USA guys coming back with not a lot of sleep and playing, that's amazing. I'm really, really proud of my teammates and I'm proud of the fact that I have the opportunity to represent a Christ-centric university. It's really awesome to just go out onto the ice and represent the Lord every night."

Early on in the third and final Midnight Mayhem matchup of the season, the Flames' top forward line of graduate Jackson Vercellono and senior alternate captains Truett Olson and Jacob Kalandyk put tremendous pressure on the Purple Eagles' cage, narrowly missing a couple scoring chances in the first five minutes. Meanwhile in net, Kausch made critical saves to preserve the scoreless tie.

In the final minutes, DeMars had a shorthanded chance in the right crease denied by McEwan and the first period remained ended without a goal.

After the Flames were snuffed on their first power-play opportunity of the game with 13:00 remaining in the second period, Liberty sophomore forward Mason Smith and Purple Eagles forward Lucas Fancy were ejected for fighting front of Niagara's net.

"They changed it from a DQ to just a game, so (Smith) will be back (for Saturday's rematch)," Handy said.

A minute after being checked to the ice at the start of the Flames' second power play, at the 8:34 mark of the second period, sophomore forward Ryan Finch punched in the game's first goal off assists from freshman forward Michael DeBrito and Kalandyk, just 25 hours after all three Liberty players had returned from Italy.

"That was a great power-play goal," Handy said. "We stuck with it, we had hunger around the net and at the end of the day, that's what you're looking for is a little bit of jam around the net. That was a brand-new power-play unit, and they scored."

Late in the second period, the Flames survived back-to-back penalty kills unscathed and went into the third clinging to a 1-0 advantage.

The Flames appeared to double that lead with 9:37 remaining in regulation, but freshman forward Mac Ratzlaff's top-shelf finish from deep in the right crease off a feed from behind the net was disallowed as the cage was knocked off its moorings a split second before the shot.

Less than two minutes later, the Purple Eagles netted the equalizer at even strength when Peter Spameni lifted a wrist shot putback from the inside edge of the left circle past Kausch into the upper netting at the 7:44 mark.

"That stuff happens," Handy said. "I thought it was a great back-and-forth game tonight. We killed off all of the power plays they had tonight, and that was a point of emphasis for us. I thought our discipline was fairly good overall."

Shields said the Flames could have been deflated going into their third consecutive overtime coming off being swept by Calvin University in last weekend's spring semester-opening series, but they regrouped and went back to business, even well after hours.

"Our locker room is so tight; we're all so positive on the bench and behind closed doors that when we get into those times of adversity, we're all there for each other," he said. "We don't pull apart, but when push comes to shove, we're all there for each other and when it gets hard, we just get closer together."

"I think as we get some more of the chemistry going with the lines and the units, you'll start to see us continue to elevate our play here," Handy added, noting Kausch's play in goal was the difference. "He's been amazing. Both of our goalies have given us a chance to win every night, so regardless of who's in net (Saturday), we feel confident in both of them."

For the Flames to put together a similar performance in Saturday's 7 p.m. rematch at the LIC, they must be disciplined in the 16 hours leading up to puck drop.

"We've got to start by just doing the right things off the ice," Shields said. "For right now, it's all about … recovery, getting proper nutrition in our bodies, getting fluids back in our body, just kind of recovering right now, getting to bed as early as possible, and getting the right sleep."

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