Lady Flames embark on quest for eighth ACHA DI national championship

Saturday, September 6

Lynchburg, VA

1:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Washington Pride

The Lady Flames feature 19 returning players and only four newcomers on this season's squad. (Photos by Travis Clayton)

Lady Flames embark on quest for eighth ACHA DI national championship

9/5/2025 7:40:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

Liberty will host the Washington Pride on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for the first of 10 games at the LaHaye Ice Center to start the 2025-26 season.

As seven-time national champions — three more than any other program in the league — one might think Liberty University's ACHA Division I women's hockey team doesn't have much left to prove.

But there are no signs of complacency in this year's model of the Lady Flames, who are loaded with tested talent and eager to build on their dynasty and compete for another crown come March near St. Louis. They will get their first live test from the Washington Pride U19 travel team Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center.

"Three weeks in, it has been a really good start for our group," said Liberty ninth-year Head Coach Chris Lowes, the reigning ACHA DI National Coach of the Year. "Our coaching staff has been really excited and happy with what we've seen from the talent level and effort in practice so far."

He said the Lady Flames only lost four players from last year's team that rebounded from its first loss under Lowes in national tournament play — a 2-1 double-overtime defeat against Minot State in the 2024 semifinals — to overcome a 1-0 deficit in the third period and stage a 2-1 double-overtime triumph over Maryville (Mo.) University in the final at the Centene Community Ice Center last March.

Liberty DI women's hockey returning players — Isobel Pettem Shand (13), a transfer from Indiana Tech, joins a veteran Liberty squad that includes (from left) Haley Battles, Brookelyn Beauchamp, Hockey Operations Manager Victoire Adetola, Sammy Peebles, head captain Brielle Fussy, and alternate captain Zosia Adamek.

"It was one of our better years for returners, with four fifth-year girls opting to come back," Lowes said of graduate forwards and captains Zosia Adamek, Haley Battles, and Brielle Fussy and defenseman Sammy Peebles. "Last year's senior class was pretty special, and to get four of them back, we are very fortunate as coaches. It is exciting to see the girls want to come back and finish their college careers here and eager to go chase another title. They have another year under their belts, another national title, and we expect them all to play with a lot of confidence and be a big part of what we accomplish this year."

Senior goalie Alex Keith has joined the captaincy corps that also includes senior defenseman Emerson Oakes. In addition to his five captains, the Lowes plans to designate seven Disciple Makers with some overlap.

The Lady Flames have replaced their four losses with freshmen goalie Emma McDonald from Ontario and forward Chloe Moses from Michigan as well as two graduate transfers — Allison Shaw, a All-ACHA DI Second-Team defenseman as a senior at Adrian last season and Izzy Pettem Shand, a forward from Indiana Tech who was an All-ACHA DI First-Team selection as a freshman in 2021-22.

As a junior in 2023-24, Shaw 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. The Lady Flames had won the previous five championships, an ACHA-record streak at any level, among men's or women's teams.

"Izzy and Shaw are girls that know this league and know how to be successful. We are really happy with their contributions and the energy they're bringing to practices," Lowes said. "We couldn't be happier with what we've seen out of them. Both are going to play heavy minutes. They're both elite players in this league and have shown that so far."

Complementing the returning and incoming graduates and seniors, the Lady Flames feature plenty of depth on offense with the likes of senior Brookelyn Beauchamp, juniors Ellie Sarauer, Tristan Craig, and Sienna McClinchey; and sophomores Presley Ellis, Hayley Lee, Brooklyn Voortman, and Brooke Olson. Liberty's defensive returners include junior Victoria Khou, sophomores Sophia Adamek, Jules Lefaive, and Isabella Pellatier; and sophomore goalie Brooklyn Adams.

"It's a big group of girls, and we expect them to take that next step," Lowes said. "We've already seen that they're ready to break out."

Saturday afternoon's exhibition opener will be the first of 10 consecutive home games at the LIC to start the season, before the Lady Flames travel to Adrian (Mich.) College, the 2023-24 national champions, Oct. 23-24.

After hosting Purcell Academy's (British Columbia) U19 travel team coached by former Liberty forward Valeriia (Manchak) Jenson for three games Sept. 26-28, Liberty will open ACHA play against Utah Oct. 3-4.

"It is still early, but we should have our lines set before we play Purcell Academy," Lowes said. "Right now, we are really just getting touches and preparing for competition and beginning to implement our systems and getting the new girls up to speed."

"We are excited for our first league games in less than a month," he added. "We've got a great locker room and a talented group. It is just a matter of us going through the process and putting it all together."

Liberty will fly to North Dakota to face Minot State twice and Jamestown once the weekend before Thanksgiving and then fly to Nebraska for the Feb. 19-21 WMCH Tournament, which it will seek to win for the sixth time in seven tries — after edging Minot State 2-1 in last season's final — to prepare for the ACHA DI National Championships from March 12-24.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Kylee Wright/Club Sports Video & Media
DI women's hockey coaching staff and trainers