Niagara opens floodgates, douses Flames with seven goals in first two periods of opener

Thursday, October 30

Niagara Falls, NY

3:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Niagara University

Flames sophomore forward Hayden DeMars has his jam shot attempt blocked by Niagara's goalie in last season's series at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Simon Barbre)

Niagara opens floodgates, douses Flames with seven goals in first two periods of opener

10/30/2025 8:28:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

Liberty lost for the third time in a row in Dwyer Arena, but this time it was by blowout rather than in a shootout.

Three goals in the final 10 minutes of the first period followed by a four-goal second period put Liberty University's No. 5-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team in a 7-0 hole in its opener at No. 8 Niagara University late Thursday afternoon.

The Flames (11-2), who had gotten off to their fastest start in program history at the DI level, prevented a shutout with a goal late in the third, but that was the only consolation to take away from the 7-1 setback.

"It was pretty one-sided," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said after the Flames suffered their third loss to the Purple Eagles (8-1) in the last three meetings at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y., after dropping both games in shootouts last fall. "They outplayed us, plain and simple. They outplayed us, outworked us, and outexecuted us tonight. We will be better tomorrow. We've got to put this one behind us tonight and be ready to go tomorrow."

Jacob Cossette gave Niagara a 1-0 lead at the 9:15 mark of the first period before the Purple Eagles doubled their advantage on a goal by Louis Chabot with 6:25 to play and fellow forward Cayden Glover extended it to 3-0 just over three minutes later.

Niagara scored twice more in the second period before junior goalie Konrad Kausch was relieved by senior goalie Nick Bernstein, who surrendered the last two goals of the period before shutting the Purple Eagles out in the third.

"They were working and executing to get their bounces, and the bounces weren't going our way," Handy said. "We didn't sustain pressure in the offensive zone, and every time there was a break (a bounce that went Niagara's way), it was going in the net."

Liberty's only goal, scored with 1:18 remaining in regulation, was scored by a defenseman, sophomore Michael Adamek, who converted assists from sophomore forward Kal Essenmacher and junior forward Mason Smith.

Handy said the Flames didn't have their usual offensive spark or defensive grit.

"We just have to execute and make sure at the end of the day we're better with and without the puck," he said. "If we want to make more plays with the puck, we have to be sure to be more attentive to the details defending."

He said the entire team needs to hit the reset button and be ready to turn the run of play in the right direction in Friday's 3 p.m. rematch, which will again be streamed live on FloHockey.

"Players, coaches, everyone has to be better tomorrow," he said. "We've all got to be part of the solution. We still believe in our team, still believe in what we're doing. We'll regroup and be ready to go tomorrow."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer