No. 4 Flames snuffed by No. 10 Saints, who open Maryville Showcase with 3-1 upset win

Thursday, November 20

St. Louis, MO

9:00 PM EST

Liberty University Club Sports

Maryville University

Flames forwards Sam Feamster (22) and Tucker Shields (11) are boxed out in front ot the net in last season's series against the Saints at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Simon Barbre)

No. 4 Flames snuffed by No. 10 Saints, who open Maryville Showcase with 3-1 upset win

11/21/2025 12:16:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey

Liberty was outshot by a 42-21 margin and gave up three power-play goals to Maryville, which killed off all six of its penalties.

Liberty University's No. 4-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team lost the special teams battle and was outshot by a 2-to-1 ratio by No. 10 Maryville University Thursday night at the Maryville University Ice Center in Chesterfield, Mo., where they were dealt a 3-1 setback by the host Saints in the first round of the Maryville Showcase.

Maryville scored power-play goals in each period — including in the opening two minutes of the second and third — to stretch their lead on the Flames, who were held scoreless on all six of their chances with a man advantage, including three in the third.

"They went 3-for 5 on the power play, and we went 0-for-6," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "We had six opportunities and didn't get anything. Plain and simple, that's where the game was lost for us and won for them."

After allowing the Saints to capitalize on their first power-play goal in the opening 10 minutes of the first period, Flames senior forward Ryan Finch netted the equalizer off an exceptional assist from junior forward Luke Munroe. But that was all the offense Liberty could muster on the night.

The Saints outshot the Flames by a 42-21 margin, and senior goalie Nick Bernstein made 39 saves in defeat.

"In the second period, they outshot us 21-4, and we were left chasing the puck," Handy said. "Nick Bernstien made some big saves in the second period that kept us in the game, but we didn't have the juice tonight. At the end of the day, we didn't have the effort and the execution we needed."

Saints forward Ethan Chesney, stationed in the left crease, capitalized on his second power-play goal of the contest at the 18:45 mark of the third period, deflecting Sidney McNeill's shot from the high slot past Liberty senior goalie Nick Bernstein for the insurance goal and a 3-1 advantage.

With the Flames on their second of three power plays later in the third period, they demonstrated tic-tac-toe passing through the left circle before Finch had his point-blank shot blocked by Maryville goalie Lucas Bain in the left crease at the 6:00 mark.

Maryville (6-8) ended its eight-game losing skid dating back to Sept. 27, including four losses against No. 2 Ohio and suffering a sweep at Long Island, a team Liberty had split with at the LaHaye Ice Center during its first season at the NCAA Division I ranks. The Saints are planning to undergo a $5.5 million expansion to their arena over the next two years and potentially transition to the NCAA Division I level soon thereafter.

"If you lose the special teams battle, it's tough to win games," Handy said. "We play again tomorrow, so we just have to reset and get ready to go again."

Liberty will meet Calvin (Mich.) University in Friday's 4 p.m. EST matchup at Maryville, which will again be streamed live on the Maryville Hockey Channel. The Flames were swept by the Knights last January at the LIC when they were missing five key players who were in Italy competing in the World University Winter Games.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer