Lady Flames surge past UMass 6-2 by netting three third-period goals

Friday, November 14

Lynchburg, VA

7:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Lady Flames surge past UMass 6-2 by netting three third-period goals

11/14/2025 11:40:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

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In Liberty’s first game this season as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, six different goal-scorers erased an early deficit to triple up the No. 12 Minutewomen.

Liberty University's ACHA Division I women's hockey team, which moved into the No. 1 spot in the ACHA DI national rankings for the first time this season, overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat No. 12 University of Massachusetts-Amherst by a 6-2 count, Friday night in the LaHaye Ice Center.

The seven-time national champion Lady Flames (17-0 and winners of 27 in a row) outshot UMass by a 50-15 margin and killed off both of its penalties but couldn't convert on any of their four power-play opportunities.

"We had 50 shots, so we need to execute (better, but) we're really happy," Liberty Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "We had a really good week of practice (and) we've been very good this year (on the power play). We need to hit the reset, get that start and I'm confident (Assistant Coach Mike Morrison) will have them ready to go (for Saturday's rematch) and I would like to think we're going to get a power-play goal tomorrow."

UMass (4-5-1) scored first midway through the opening period when forward Hannah Gromko chased down a puck as it crossed the right endline and sent a pass back to defenseman Riley Evans at the top of the left circle for a one-timed slap shot that skipped off the skate of Liberty senior forward Tristan Craig past freshman goalie Emma McDonald through the five-hole.

"I was not happy about that, but I had to shake it off," said Craig, who later scored the first of the Lady Flames' three goals in the third period to atone for the miscue.

Liberty tied the contest at 1 late in the first period on a goal by graduate forward Haley Battles, her third goal in a row for the Lady Flames after scoring twice in the third period of a 5-3 victory over Maryville (Mo.) University in the second game of an ACHA DI National Championship final rematch series sweep. Skating through the left crease, Battles deftly deflected senior defenseman and fellow alternate captain Emerson Oakes' shot from the top of the circle to bounce it between her legs and past UMass goalie Sarah Matthews inside the left post off a secondary assist from junior defenseman Sophia Adamek.

With the teams skating 4-on-4 with 15:28 to play in the second period, Lady Flames graduate forward and head captain Brielle Fussy received a pass from graduate defenseman Allison Shaw in the left circle and netted the go-ahead goal, following a right-circle faceoff won by graduate forward and alternate captain Zosia Adamek.

Then, at the 6:41 mark of the second, junior forward Ellie Sarauer finished a pass across the slot from graduate forward Isobel Pettem-Shand on fast-break counterattack for a 3-1 Liberty lead, off a secondary assist from senior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp.

Less than two minutes into the third period, the Lady Flames added what would be the insurance goal when Craig slammed home a rebound in front off assists from sophomore forward Hayley Lee and Sophia Adamek for a 4-1 advantage.

Gronko cut the deficit to 4-2 by beating McDonald one-on-one from the left crease after a fast-break feed from Kennedy Pierson, the leading scorer for the Minutemen.

"We gave up a breakaway and (Gronko) made a beautiful move," Lowes said. "Give UMass credit. They battled hard and they made the most of their opportunities and they looked inspired."

Liberty proceeded to put the win on ice by tacking on two more scores in the final seven minutes — by Zosia Adamek from deep in the left circle off assists from Pettem-Shand and Lee with 6:29 to play and graduate defenseman Sammy Peebles on a shot through traffic from the top of the right circle, set up by Beauchamp and Fussy at the 3:47 mark.

"A win's a win, but … it was nice to get those two in the third, just to give us some breathing room," Lowes said.

The Lady Flames will look to sharpen their execution and complete the sweep in their final home series of the semester on Saturday when the puck drops at 12:30 p.m. for the rematch with UMass.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer