Friday, October 17
Lynchburg, VA
4:30 PM
Liberty University Club Sports
vs
Virginia Tech
DII men’s hockey opens home-and-home against Hokies with shutout win in the LIC
10/17/2025 9:01:00 PM | Men's D2 Hockey
The Flames kept Virginia Tech’s attack to the outside and finished its chances down the center of the ice, sparked by Drake Perham’s three assists.
Liberty University's ACHA Division II men's hockey team bounced back from back-to-back lopsided losses last weekend to reigning national champion Lindenwood (Mo.) University by shutting out Virginia Tech 4-0 at the LaHaye Ice Center in Friday's opener of a home-and-home series.
The Flames (4-8) defeated the Hokies (4-2-1) for the second time in a row in the LIC after rebounding from a 4-3 setback on Sept. 12 by winning the rematch of a home-and-home series 5-4 in a shootout on Sept. 13.
"This was a good showing of how we have grown since we played them about a month ago," said Liberty first-year Head Coach Christian Garland, who has 17 freshmen on his roster. "We've grown a lot since then, and we showed it today. We're starting to become more cohesive as a unit and starting to have better habits, but we've got to prove it again tomorrow."
Virginia Tech will host Saturday's 6:30 p.m. rematch at Lancerlot Sports Complex in Vinton, Va., where the Flames used to play their home games before constructing the LIC in 2006.
On Friday, Liberty senior forward Mark Padgett started the scoring after receiving a beautiful cross-crease assist from freshman forward Drake Perham before faking out Virginia Tech goalie Ian Kee to the right and tapping the puck inside the open left side of the net with 10:15 to play in the first period.
Senior defenseman Cade Pawluk struck the crossbar with a shot from the left point moments later before the Flames capitalized with 20 seconds remaining on their first power play. Perham sent his second assist from the right circle into senior forward Jared Manley, who trapped the puck and fired it past Kees from in the slot.
Liberty extended its lead to 3-0 in the second period when freshman defenseman Caleb Berkenkotter sent a feed from the right circle that glanced off the back of the leg of junior forward Cory Owens as he crashed the cage, redirecting the puck into the back of the net.
The Flames killed off the Hokies' 4-on-3 and 5-on-4 power plays with freshman forward Glen Farmer, the Flames' leading scorer on the season, nearly finishing a shorthanded wraparound attempt inside the left post.
Graduate defenseman Nate Cox then made a sliding block of a potential fast-break shot by the Hokies, providing exceptional defense in front of freshman goalie Andrew Young.
The Flames' penalty kill unit squelched another chance by Virginia Tech that spanned the second and third periods. They later capped the scoring on a spectacular tic-tac-toe pass combination from Padgett to Perham to sophomore forward Cooper Fredericks for an open tap-in in the right side of the net at the 6:33 mark.
"That last one was great because he backchecked a guy and killed their exit, played the body and got the puck back and made a beautiful pass," Garland said. "That's really what it's all about, wearing the hard-hat out there. After the hard backcheck, everyone reloaded above the blue line, and we attacked three-on-one."
Perham's third assist of the contest brought his season total to four points.
"He had a good game," Garland said. "He's starting to find his groove and confidence and get his motor back."
Liberty outshot Virginia Tech by a 42-29 margin and Young made 29 saves to record his second shutout.
"For our guys, it's about winning by committee," Garland said. "Andrew played well when he needed to, and we did a good job of team defense. We kept most of their play to the outside. Defensively, our forwards did a much better job up and down the lineup."
He said seniors Antonio Vidal and Josh Martin, junior Caleb Burchett, and Matley have made consistent strides in their defensive games.
"Those are the things I want to focus on because that's how we're going to have to win," Garland said. "We need to play solid team defense and it starts with those guys that are known more for their offensive ability but they've got to learn how to play the harder side of the puck so they can earn the right to go play on offense."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
The Flames (4-8) defeated the Hokies (4-2-1) for the second time in a row in the LIC after rebounding from a 4-3 setback on Sept. 12 by winning the rematch of a home-and-home series 5-4 in a shootout on Sept. 13.
"This was a good showing of how we have grown since we played them about a month ago," said Liberty first-year Head Coach Christian Garland, who has 17 freshmen on his roster. "We've grown a lot since then, and we showed it today. We're starting to become more cohesive as a unit and starting to have better habits, but we've got to prove it again tomorrow."
Virginia Tech will host Saturday's 6:30 p.m. rematch at Lancerlot Sports Complex in Vinton, Va., where the Flames used to play their home games before constructing the LIC in 2006.
On Friday, Liberty senior forward Mark Padgett started the scoring after receiving a beautiful cross-crease assist from freshman forward Drake Perham before faking out Virginia Tech goalie Ian Kee to the right and tapping the puck inside the open left side of the net with 10:15 to play in the first period.
Senior defenseman Cade Pawluk struck the crossbar with a shot from the left point moments later before the Flames capitalized with 20 seconds remaining on their first power play. Perham sent his second assist from the right circle into senior forward Jared Manley, who trapped the puck and fired it past Kees from in the slot.
Liberty extended its lead to 3-0 in the second period when freshman defenseman Caleb Berkenkotter sent a feed from the right circle that glanced off the back of the leg of junior forward Cory Owens as he crashed the cage, redirecting the puck into the back of the net.
The Flames killed off the Hokies' 4-on-3 and 5-on-4 power plays with freshman forward Glen Farmer, the Flames' leading scorer on the season, nearly finishing a shorthanded wraparound attempt inside the left post.
Graduate defenseman Nate Cox then made a sliding block of a potential fast-break shot by the Hokies, providing exceptional defense in front of freshman goalie Andrew Young.
The Flames' penalty kill unit squelched another chance by Virginia Tech that spanned the second and third periods. They later capped the scoring on a spectacular tic-tac-toe pass combination from Padgett to Perham to sophomore forward Cooper Fredericks for an open tap-in in the right side of the net at the 6:33 mark.
"That last one was great because he backchecked a guy and killed their exit, played the body and got the puck back and made a beautiful pass," Garland said. "That's really what it's all about, wearing the hard-hat out there. After the hard backcheck, everyone reloaded above the blue line, and we attacked three-on-one."
Perham's third assist of the contest brought his season total to four points.
"He had a good game," Garland said. "He's starting to find his groove and confidence and get his motor back."
Liberty outshot Virginia Tech by a 42-29 margin and Young made 29 saves to record his second shutout.
"For our guys, it's about winning by committee," Garland said. "Andrew played well when he needed to, and we did a good job of team defense. We kept most of their play to the outside. Defensively, our forwards did a much better job up and down the lineup."
He said seniors Antonio Vidal and Josh Martin, junior Caleb Burchett, and Matley have made consistent strides in their defensive games.
"Those are the things I want to focus on because that's how we're going to have to win," Garland said. "We need to play solid team defense and it starts with those guys that are known more for their offensive ability but they've got to learn how to play the harder side of the puck so they can earn the right to go play on offense."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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