Defenseman Allison Shaw (left) and forward Izzy Pettem-Shand bring high-level games to Liberty as fifth-year transfers from ACHA DI national contenders Adrian College and Indiana Tech, respectively..
Lady Flames pick up graduate transfers from Adrian, Indiana Tech to prep for challenging 2025-26 schedule
7/25/2025 12:29:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey
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The reigning ACHA DI national champions will meet runner-up Maryville four times in the regular season, starting with a Nov. 7 Midnight Mayhem matchup.
Liberty University's seven-time ACHA Division I national champion women's hockey team, which is returning four fifth-year graduates — forwards Zosia Adamek, Haley Battles, and Brielle Fussy, and defenseman Sammy Peebles — as well as six seniors, has added two graduate transfers to the 2025-26 roster in Allison Shaw, an All-ACHA DI Second Team defenseman as a senior at Adrian College, and Izzy Pettem-Shand, a forward from Indiana Tech.
Allison Shaw
As a junior in 2023-24, Shaw, from Belle River, Ontario, led the nation in scoring among defenseman, finishing with 47 points throughout the regular season, playoffs, and nationals to help the Bulldogs capture their first-ever DI title in 2024. The Lady Flames had won the previous five championships, an ACHA-record streak at any level, among men's or women's teams.
"We probably played against her 18-20 times in her career, four times a year in the regular season, and at least a couple times at nationals," Liberty Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "She's been a very accomplished two-way player in her time."
Izzy Pettem-Shand
Pettem-Shand, from Calgary, Alberta, was an All-ACHA Division I First-Team selection as a freshman in 2021-22, when she scored 15 goals and distributed 42 assists for a team-high 57 points. She had similar production as a sophomore in 2022-23, tallying 44 points in 34 games on 13 goals and 31 assists, before adding 20 points (4G, 16A) in 31 games as a junior and 30 points (11G, 19A) in 32 games as a senior.
"She has shown she can be dangerous and effective in this league, and we are excited to have her join us," Lowes said. "With two transfers and two freshmen (forward Chloe Moses and goalie Emma McDonald), it should be a good recipe, adding a couple other vets to our returning veterans."
The Lady Flames recently released their 2025-26 schedule, which opens Sept. 6 with an exhibition game against the Washington Pride U19 team at the LaHaye Ice Center. They will then host three more preseason contests against Purcell Hockey Academy from British Columbia, Canada, coached by former Liberty DI forward Val Manchek, from Sept. 26-28.
The majority of the Lady Flames' ACHA schedule, which includes 14 home games and 12 road contests, is against WMCH competition before Liberty travels to Midland (Neb.) University to contend for their sixth conference championship in seven seasons.
Three of the WMCH regular-season contests are scheduled for a Jan. 22-24 showcase at McKendree (Ill.) University, against the host Bearcats, Midland, and Minot State, before a second annual WMCH All-Star game on Jan. 25. Liberty will play both Adrian and Maryville four times, twice at home and twice away. The first game against the Saints will be the second Midnight Mayhem contest on Nov. 7.
Liberty forward Hayley Lee shoots against Niagara in a national quarterfinal game.
"Maryville was the No. 2 team in the nation for the last few ranking periods and pushed us to double overtime game when we played them in the finals at nationals, so that is a budding rivalry that continues to grow," Lowes said. "You can't ask for a better opponent in the Midnight game than to play a program that has been one of our toughest opponents all year."
The Lady Flames expect to travel back to the Centene Community Ice Center near St. Louis to contend for their eighth national championship from March 16-21.
"That is always the goal," Lowes said. "Obviously, we are looking to defend our (WMCH) conference and (ACHA) national titles. We have built a super competitive schedule that gives us looks at a lot of the top teams in the league, with a lot of challenging weekends ahead. Adversity only causes us to get stronger. We know we are going to have our hands full, but we will be patient and work from day one to put together a program that will be competitive in March."
Liberty DI women's hockey 2025-26 schedule Sept. 6 Washington Pride, 1 p.m. Sept. 26 Purcell Hockey Academy, 1 p.m. Sept. 27 Purcell Hockey Academy, 11 a.m. Sept. 28 Purcell Hockey Academy, 1 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Niagara, 9:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Niagara, 2 p.m. Oct. 10 Rhode Island, 7 p.m. Oct. 11 Rhode Island, 4 p.m. Oct. 17 Lindenwood, 7 p.m. Oct. 18 Lindenwood, 4 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Adrian, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Adrian, 3 p.m. Nov. 7 Maryville, 11:59 p.m. (Midnight Mayhem) Nov. 8Maryville, 4 p.m. Nov. 14 UMass, 9:45 p.m. Nov. 15 UMass, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Minot State, 3:45 p.m.
Nov. 22 at Minot State, 3:45 p.m.
Nov. 23 at Jamestown (N.D.), 11 a.m. Jan. 17 Michigan, 7 p.m. Jan. 18 Michigan, 1 p.m.
Jan. 22 at McKendree, 2 p.m.
Jan. 23 vs. Midland (at McKendree)
Jan. 24 vs. Minot State (at McKendree)
Jan. 25 WMCH All-Star Game (at McKendree) Jan. 29 Niagara, 8:45 p.m. Jan. 30 Niagara, 1 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Maryville
Feb. 7 at Maryville Feb. 14 Adrian, 7 p.m. Feb. 15 Adrian 4 p.m.
Feb. 19-21 WMCH Playoffs at Midland (Neb.) University
Mar. 16-21 ACHA DI National Championships at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo. (Bold denotes home games at LaHaye Ice Center.)
