Flames sweep Panthers behind Bernstein’s near shutout performance in net

Saturday, February 15

Lynchburg, VA

7:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

University of Pittsburgh

Flames graduate center Jackson Vercellono helped set up the first goal in Saturday night's rematch with Pittsburgh at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Emily Cuthrell)

Flames sweep Panthers behind Bernstein’s near shutout performance in net

2/15/2025 11:38:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

No. 4 Liberty improved to 7-0 against No. 20 Pittsburgh in preparation for concluding its regular season next weekend back in the LIC against No. 3 Ohio.

Spurred on by a near sell-out crowd at the LaHaye Ice Center, Liberty University's No. 4-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team completed a sweep of No. 20 Pittsburgh and improved to 7-0 all-time against the Panthers on Saturday night with a 3-1 victory.

The Flames (21-6-4) outshot Pittsburgh (14-11-5) by a 48-27 margin and junior goalie Nick Bernstein made 26 saves to improve to 7-3-3, narrowly missing posting his third shutout when the Panthers scored in the final second of regulation.

"Bernstein has stood on his head the last two games he's played," Liberty sophomore forward Mason Smith said. "We aren't winning tonight unless he's in there. It was a good team effort, but he definitely came through for us back there."

Liberty's offense rose to the occasion with one goal in the first period and two in the second before being held scoreless in the third.

Following an odd-man rush generated by the Flames' top line of senior forwards Jacob Kalandyk and Truett Olson and graduate center Jackson Vercellono, junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau slammed home the putback of Kalandyk's point-blank shot off the right post into the back of the net. His first goal of the season, to go along with his team-high 22 assists, lifted Liberty to a 1-0 lead at the 8:24 mark of the first period.

A Pitt forward struck a post on the opening drive of the second period, allowing Bernstein to preserve his shutout. Junior defenseman Grant Morton was ejected and assessed a five-minute penalty and game misconduct for fighting while his Panthers' opponent only earned a two-minute penalty for roughing, while being roughed up.

"That definitely got the boys going a bit," Smith said. "For the most part, we did a good job tonight of just playing our game and kind of sticking to what we know instead of buying into the stuff they were feeding us."

Three seconds after the 4-on-4 situation turned into a penalty kill, the Flames doubled their lead shorthanded when freshman forward Hayden DeMars skated the puck down the left wing and sent a backhanded assist to sophomore defenseman Luke Anderson in front for a point-blank finish and 2-0 advantage at the 4:24 mark.

Then, after killing off the remainder of the penalty, Liberty went on a power play and extended its lead to 3-0 just 32 seconds before the second intermission when Smith tucked in the putback of junior defenseman Laz Kaebel's shot from the point off a secondary assist from junior forward and head captain Sam Feamster.

"It was good to get our power play going," Smith said. "We've been kind of struggling lately, so it's good to get that rolling again and get on the board. Laz had a nice shot there and Feamster tipped it and I just found a way to find the puck and put it in."

"We got a new line combination with me and (freshmen forwards Michael) DeBrito and (Kal) Essenmacher and I think we're rolling pretty good," he added. "It's good to have some young life out there and I think we play well together and we have pretty good chemistry."

Essenmacher and Vercellono struck a post and a crossbar with shots early in the third period but could not add to the Flames' lead and Panthers forward Edward Pazo converted his third goal of the series through the five hole with one-tenth of a second left on the clock.

"(In a 7-2 triumph Friday night) we had more offense going, but tonight our defensive game was good and Bernie made a lot of big saves," Smith said. "Today, we could have had a few more (goals). We're not ecstatic about the effort, but we're just happy to get the win and move on to Ohio."

He said the third-ranked Bobcats will give Liberty an excellent final regular-season test as the Flames prep for the ACHA DI National Championships from March 13-18 near St. Louis.

"Physically, Ohio's a bigger, faster team, so it will be good to go against them," Smith said. "I enjoy playing those games. Our team plays better against better teams and shows what we're really made of, so it will be good to get back at it against Ohio."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media