Flames dance with Wolves before putting them away with two third-period goals
9/5/2025 11:53:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
Goalies Konrad Kausch and Nick Bernstein combined for 33 saves and Liberty’s attack capitalized on two power-play goals to pull away for a 4-1 season-opening win.
Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team stood up for junior goalie Konrad Kausch after he took a hit late in the first period and that helped to spark the Flames' attack in Friday night's 4-1 season-opening triumph over the West Chester (Pa.) Wolves' NCDC team in front of a lively crowd at the LaHaye Ice Center.
Ther Flames didn't take well to West Chester defenseman Mikko Rippon delivering a check on Kausch along the backboards late in the first period, with all five skaters retaliating with fisticuffs against a pack of Wolves in the right corner.
"That sparked a little bit of fun out there," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said, after Rippon was eventually ejected from the game. "(Kausch is) our guy, and both him and (senior replacement Nick) Bernstein were awesome tonight."
With 54 seconds remaining in the first period and Liberty on a power play, the Flames finally cashed in with the first goal of the season when Hayden DeMars received passes from fellow sophomore forward Tucker Shields and junior forward and head captain Sam Feamster and rifled a wrist shot from the top of the right circle through a screen from junior forward Mason Smith into the top-left corner of the cage past West Chester goalie Sebastian Pribula for a 1-0 advantage.
Kausch, who sustained a couple more hits in the second period, was replaced by Bernstein as scheduled midway through the contest before he allowed the tying score at the 6:25 mark on a shot from the point by defenseman Nico Pasquale that was deftly deflected in by forward Dallas Glenn.
"That goal wasn't (Bernstein's) fault at all," Flames junior defenseman Luke Anderson said. "It's just an unfortunate deflection. He stood on his head, too. Obviously, that save he made at the end of the third period was unbelievable. I think we have the best goalie tandem in the ACHA. We have a really good pair of goalies."
Moments later, Bernstein responded with a brilliant kick save of a putback by forward Chase Kerr deep in the slot after blocking his initial shot, preserving the 1-1 tie.
Shields then took passes from sophomore defenseman Michael Adamek and DeMars and netted the go-ahead goal seconds into another Flames power play, firing a shot from the top of the left circle that deflected off West Chester defenseman and head captain Harrison Kinne and bounced like a rock past Pribula at the 2:56 mark.
"They scored a goal like that and kind of put us on our heels, and our guys battled back," Handy said. "Early on, you hope your offense comes alive. You usually work on a lot of defensive stuff, and you hope the offense comes, and I thought the offensive side was solid tonight. I liked our game at the end of the game. I thought our guys played well."
"The power play was clicking tonight, for sure," Anderson added. "They definitely were moving it around and snapping it and shooting and converting really well."
Liberty doubled its lead with 13:55 remaining in regulation on a fast break triggered by junior forward Luke Munroe's outlet pass to senior forward Ryan Finch. He skated through the right circle before dropping a pass back to Anderson who slapped a quick shot from the center of the right circle for a 3-1 advantage.
"It was 5-on-5, but it was kind of an off-the-rush play and turned into a 3-on-2," Anderson said. "It was kind of an awkward shot because I was off my back foot a little bit."
Then, with 6:18 to go, sophomore forward Kal Essenmacher batted the rebound of senior forward Connor Diem's shot from the high slot out the air and into the net with a backhand in the left crease, padding the Flames' edge to 4-1.
"We were talking in between periods about wanting to get a couple of goals and put some distance between us and them and put them away, so I was glad we were able to do that and kind of take care of business," Anderson said.
The Wolves provided a good test for the Flames in their season opener, but Kausch and Bernstein combined for 33 saves to emerge with a split victory.
"That's the type of goaltending that we know we're going to get all year," Handy said. "They played great again tonight."
"(West Chester) put up a really good fight," Anderson added. "They're going to be a good team in NCDC this year, for sure. We definitely leaned on our goalies probably a little bit too much tonight, but we're still trying to iron out some systems and get things settled in for our real opener next weekend."
Liberty will go from hosting the Wolves to traveling to play the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C., in a home and home series next weekend, with Saturday's rematch set for 7 p.m. back in the LIC.
"We look forward to playing them next Friday night," Anderson said. "We'll go to their barn and then they'll come here Saturday, and it'll be a good test. We're excited for it. It was good to get this game out of the way, just kind of get the jitters out and get the real deal going next Friday."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media
Ther Flames didn't take well to West Chester defenseman Mikko Rippon delivering a check on Kausch along the backboards late in the first period, with all five skaters retaliating with fisticuffs against a pack of Wolves in the right corner.
"That sparked a little bit of fun out there," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said, after Rippon was eventually ejected from the game. "(Kausch is) our guy, and both him and (senior replacement Nick) Bernstein were awesome tonight."
With 54 seconds remaining in the first period and Liberty on a power play, the Flames finally cashed in with the first goal of the season when Hayden DeMars received passes from fellow sophomore forward Tucker Shields and junior forward and head captain Sam Feamster and rifled a wrist shot from the top of the right circle through a screen from junior forward Mason Smith into the top-left corner of the cage past West Chester goalie Sebastian Pribula for a 1-0 advantage.
Kausch, who sustained a couple more hits in the second period, was replaced by Bernstein as scheduled midway through the contest before he allowed the tying score at the 6:25 mark on a shot from the point by defenseman Nico Pasquale that was deftly deflected in by forward Dallas Glenn.
"That goal wasn't (Bernstein's) fault at all," Flames junior defenseman Luke Anderson said. "It's just an unfortunate deflection. He stood on his head, too. Obviously, that save he made at the end of the third period was unbelievable. I think we have the best goalie tandem in the ACHA. We have a really good pair of goalies."
Moments later, Bernstein responded with a brilliant kick save of a putback by forward Chase Kerr deep in the slot after blocking his initial shot, preserving the 1-1 tie.
Shields then took passes from sophomore defenseman Michael Adamek and DeMars and netted the go-ahead goal seconds into another Flames power play, firing a shot from the top of the left circle that deflected off West Chester defenseman and head captain Harrison Kinne and bounced like a rock past Pribula at the 2:56 mark.
"They scored a goal like that and kind of put us on our heels, and our guys battled back," Handy said. "Early on, you hope your offense comes alive. You usually work on a lot of defensive stuff, and you hope the offense comes, and I thought the offensive side was solid tonight. I liked our game at the end of the game. I thought our guys played well."
"The power play was clicking tonight, for sure," Anderson added. "They definitely were moving it around and snapping it and shooting and converting really well."
Liberty doubled its lead with 13:55 remaining in regulation on a fast break triggered by junior forward Luke Munroe's outlet pass to senior forward Ryan Finch. He skated through the right circle before dropping a pass back to Anderson who slapped a quick shot from the center of the right circle for a 3-1 advantage.
"It was 5-on-5, but it was kind of an off-the-rush play and turned into a 3-on-2," Anderson said. "It was kind of an awkward shot because I was off my back foot a little bit."
Then, with 6:18 to go, sophomore forward Kal Essenmacher batted the rebound of senior forward Connor Diem's shot from the high slot out the air and into the net with a backhand in the left crease, padding the Flames' edge to 4-1.
"We were talking in between periods about wanting to get a couple of goals and put some distance between us and them and put them away, so I was glad we were able to do that and kind of take care of business," Anderson said.
The Wolves provided a good test for the Flames in their season opener, but Kausch and Bernstein combined for 33 saves to emerge with a split victory.
"That's the type of goaltending that we know we're going to get all year," Handy said. "They played great again tonight."
"(West Chester) put up a really good fight," Anderson added. "They're going to be a good team in NCDC this year, for sure. We definitely leaned on our goalies probably a little bit too much tonight, but we're still trying to iron out some systems and get things settled in for our real opener next weekend."
Liberty will go from hosting the Wolves to traveling to play the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C., in a home and home series next weekend, with Saturday's rematch set for 7 p.m. back in the LIC.
"We look forward to playing them next Friday night," Anderson said. "We'll go to their barn and then they'll come here Saturday, and it'll be a good test. We're excited for it. It was good to get this game out of the way, just kind of get the jitters out and get the real deal going next Friday."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media
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