Flames burned by Bulldogs in series opener in Michigan, 7-3

Friday, October 10

Adrian, MI

7:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Adrian College

Flames sophomore forward Tucker Shields crashes the net in last season's series against Adrian College at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Brooke McDuffee)

Flames burned by Bulldogs in series opener in Michigan, 7-3

10/10/2025 11:48:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

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No. 4 Liberty allowed No. 2 Adrian to open a 4-0 lead midway through the second period and to control 5-on-5 action from start to finish.

A duel between undefeated ACHA powers turned into a crushing 7-3 setback for Liberty University's No. 4-ranked Division I men's hockey team at the hands of No. 2 Adrian College, Friday night at Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich.

Shot totals were dead even at 31-31, and the Flames (8-1) won the special teams battle, but the final score tilted heavily in favor of the Bulldogs (8-0), who have outscored opponents by a 52-8 margin this season.

"Our power play went 3-for-6 and our penalty kill went 4-for-4, and they scored six goals on us 5-on-5 and one 4-on-4," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said as the Bulldogs came into the contest having killed off 96 percent of their penalties and converting on 38.5 percent of their power-play opportunities. "Our power play succeeded tonight, and on the PK we got the job done, too."

At even strength, the Bulldogs were bullish, with 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward Matteo Turrin from Montreal an instigator on attack.

Adrian College opened the scoring just 45 seconds after the opening faceoff by capitalizing on a quick counterattack with Turrin finishing a fast-break feed from Eli Reimer, lifting his shot from the inside edge in the right circle past Flames junior goalie Konrad Kausch off the crossbar and in.

"We've got to have a better start," Handy said. "You can't come into the battle timid and without being ready. That's on us as coaches and on everyone. Everyone's got to be better (in Saturday's rematch)."

The Bulldogs doubled their advantage on a left-circle shot by defenseman Cale Strasky on a loose puck after a rebound glanced off the skate of Flames freshman forward Seth Huygen. Strasky's shot was tipped up and inside the right post by forward Blake Wideman, who was stationed in front of the right side of the cage, at the 13:07 mark.

Sebastian Smith extended Adrian's lead to 3-0 with 16:39 remaining in the second period by sneaking a fast-break shot from the high slot through traffic and off a Flames defenseman past Kausch.

Wideman pounced on a loose puck and converted a shorthanded score on a breakaway backhander through the five hole of Kausch for a commanding 4-0 edge at the 9:14 mark.

But just 16 seconds later, after a timeout by the Flames midway through the Flames' power play, senior forward Ryan Finch got Liberty on the scoreboard by finishing sophomore forward Liam Cox-Smith's backhanded pivot pass through the right circle off a secondary assist from junior forward Luke Munroe from the red line.

Then, with Liberty back on the man advantage, it cashed in with 2:16 to go in the second period when Cox-Smith slammed the rebound of Finch's sharp-angled shot from the left side into an open net in front, cutting the deficit to 4-2 going into the second intermission.

Just nine seconds into the third period, the Bulldogs took advantage of a costly miscue when Kausch was left out of position after attempting to make a clear along the boards behind the net. Junior defenseman Luke Anderson was checked hard into the corner as he tried to receive the pass and the puck sprung loose to Reimer in the left circle where he fired it into the open net as Kausch scrambled back to his post, expanding the lead to 5-2.

Wideman completed his hat trick at the 17:26 mark, accelerating past Flames defenseman Michael Fischer as he skated through the right circle on a breakaway before lancing a backhand through the five hole for a 6-2 Adrian lead. That ended the night for Kausch, who was replaced by senior goalie Nick Bernstein.

"We were down 4-0 and battled back to cut it in half, and it's tough," Handy said. "Konrad is a fantastic goalie. He'll be the first to admit he's got to be better. We love Konrad, and he's a big part of our team. He will bounce back, and we will rebound tomorrow."

Bernstein was greeted by a backhander by Reimer that struck off the left post as the Flames were called for a hooking penalty. He stopped a couple shots late on the ensuing power play before Turrin was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for his crushing check that pinned Fischer's shoulders and head against the boards in the left corner.

"That was a bad hit," Handy said.

Liberty capitalized quickly, just eight seconds into the extended power play, with Munroe receiving senior forward Michael DeBrito's feed from near the top of the right circle before redirecting a shot from the right side of the slot past Adrian goalie Payton Trzaska, trimming the deficit to 6-3.

The Flames were whistled for a penalty, negating the last part of their man advantage, and with the teams skating 4-on-4 the Bulldogs won a right-circle faceoff before Smith punched in a putback from close range on the left side of the net for his second score and thwarting any comeback hopes Liberty had left.

With a quick turnaround, the Flames hope to turn the tables on Adrian in Saturday's 1:05 p.m. rematch, again streamed live on Adrian College TV.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer