DII men’s hockey pulls out 5-4 shootout win over Hokies in home rematch

Friday, September 12

Blacksburg, VA

7:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Virginia Tech

Liberty scored three second-period goals to take a 3-2 lead in Friday's opener in Vinton, Va., before giving up the equalizer and game winner in the last two minutes of the third period.

DII men’s hockey pulls out 5-4 shootout win over Hokies in home rematch

9/15/2025 5:42:00 PM | Men's D2 Hockey

Liberty lost a 3-2 lead in the last two minutes of Friday night’s 4-3 first-game setback in Vinton, Va., where the Flames used to play their home games.

In a back-and-forth battle to cap off a rivalry renewed over the weekend, Liberty University's ACHA Division II men's hockey team salvaged a series split with a breakthrough 5-4 shootout victory over Virginia Tech in Saturday afternoon's rematch in the LaHaye Ice Center.

"That's three games in a row with a lead change (in the third period), and it was good to get the first one," Head Coach Christian Garland said after the Flames (1-3) rebounded from being swept by High Point in their season-opening series on Sept. 5-6 and dropping Friday night's game against the Hokies at the LancerLot Sports Complex in Vinton, Va., 4-3.

In the first game, played in the same rink where Liberty used to play its home games before the construction of the LIC in 2007, the Flames rallied from an early 1-0 deficit with three goals in the second period to seize a 3-2 lead. However, they allowed Virginia Tech forwards Gavin Peduzzi to net the equalizer and Ethan Garlock the game winner in the last two minutes, with Garlock's goal coming on a Hokies power play with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.

Liberty junior goalie Christian Sehlke made 51 saves in the 4-3 setback as Virginia Tech held a 55-33 shot advantage.

The Flames led Saturday's rematch 4-2 after freshman defenseman Glen Farmer's second goal of the game on a sneaky wraparound at the 13:01 mark of the third period assisted by graduate forward Corey Owens and junior forward Caleb Burchett.

"We had contributions up and down the lineup, more so than in years past," Garland said. "We adjusted the lines a little bit, but Corey Owens, Caleb Burchett, and Glen Farmer … got us going on the forecheck and gave us a lot of energy throughout the game."

However, Liberty let the Hokies rally for two goals in the final 2:21, with Garlock pulling them within 4-3 and defenseman Bryan Rice forcing overtime with 58 seconds to play on a perimeter shot after Virginia Tech had pulled its goalie for an extra skater.

Fortunately for the Flames, after a scoreless five-minute, sudden-death overtime, sophomore forward Anthony Emme and graduate forward Jared Matley — who had scored Liberty's only goal of the first period — converted their shootout attempts and freshman goalie Andrew Young stopped both of the Hokies' tries to preserve the victory.

"That was huge," Garland said of Young's first win between the pipes, making 42 saves as Liberty outshot Virginia Tech 47-46. "He was awesome, a really calming presence for the whole team, and in the two games he has started, he has become a lot more confident in himself."

Farmer netted the equalizer in the second period and senior forward Mark Padgett gave the Flames their first lead later that period, setting the stage for the Hokies' third period comeback.

"Virginia Tech is super resilient with a high level of compete and some really strong leadership that knows how to keep the group engaged, and that's the way that we're growing," Garland said. "Even from last night where that game flipped on its head quickly and we were kind of feeling bad about ourselves when that happened, to (Saturday) where, they scored two goals in about a minute and we were going into overtime … and we could have kind of checked out, but we stayed engaged all throughout overtime. The bench was really good, the compete level was really good, the chatter on the bench was really good. I feel like we grew a lot just in the last 18 hours. It was a quick turnaround."

He is looking forward to a second home-and-home with the Hokies on Oct. 17 at the LIC and Oct. 18 in Vinton.

"We're really excited about that because we'll see how much both of us grow in the next month and how we've adjusted, what are our strengths and how have our freshmen come along because they have 10 or 11 newcomers and we have 17 so we're both very young teams," Garland said. "This group really grew and matured a lot this weekend. Saturday's win was a big momentum-builder, and hopefully it gives us some positivity and something to build off and we know we've got our work for us in two weeks."

Virginia Tech is just one of the numerous competitive challenges on the Flames' slate this season, with a trip to face four-time national champion and 2025 semifinalist Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Tampa — which won its first AAU Division I national championship in Jacksonville, Fla., last March — set for Sept. 26-28.

"The University of Tampa is new to ACHA Division II this year and FGCU's one of the teams that sets the standard in our league," Garland said. "We do have a really tough schedule this year so we can experience those playoff-type games early. When you play those top teams, you learn what you do well and don't do well very quickly because they expose your weaknesses. So it will be a learning experience."

As elated as the Flames were to experience the thrill of victory on the ice for the first time with Garland at the helm, they were exuberant to welcome a team member to the body of Christ after a Bible study led by Owens, who is a graduate assistant on the Club Sports Holistic Development staff.

"One of our players came to Christ this week and that was the biggest victory," Garland said. "The hockey games are great, but that's what it's all about and the mission of the school and the mission of our team. (Pure Encouragement director Gary Steffes) came and talked to the team a couple weeks ago and Corey Owens, who has been growing and maturing in his faith and has a huge heart for and is unapologetic about chasing after guys, especially non-believers, and trying to bring them into the fold, provided follow-up."

"I'm happier about that than anything," he added. "We're learning that our identity isn't in us as hockey players, but it's in Christ and that's what we're here for, training champions, and it's not just about hockey. It's cool to see when we do things the right way to bear fruit so early."

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