Power-play goal late in second period pushes Purple Eagles past Flames in spring opener

Friday, January 23

Lynchburg, VA

7:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Niagara University

Sophomore forward Kal Essenmacher faces off against Niagara's Adam Sojka, who assisted the game's first goal. (Photos by Megan Lovelace)

Power-play goal late in second period pushes Purple Eagles past Flames in spring opener

1/23/2026 11:41:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

After losing to Niagara for the fifth time in the last seven meetings on Friday night, falling 3-1, Liberty will look to snap a three-game skid on Star Wars Saturday at 1 p.m.

Despite a spirited start and persistent pushback, Liberty University's No. 9-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team dropped its spring semester opener against No. 5 Niagara University, which snapped a four-game losing streak by dealing the Flames a 3-1 setback Friday night at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"I think it was closer than the final score showed, but they scored one on the power play, and we didn't," Head Coach Kirk Handy said after Liberty finished 0-for-5 with a man advantage while its penalty kill was successful on four of five opportunities. "I liked our game five-on-five. I thought we played well. The special teams battle is one they won tonight, and we need to win (in Saturday's 1 p.m. rematch). That will be big tomorrow."

Niagara rose to No. 1 for the first time in program history earlier this season, but slipped four spots after being swept at No. 2 Ohio to end the fall semester and at No. 3 UNLV to start the spring. The Purple Eagles have had Liberty's number in recent seasons, sweeping the Flames in their past two series in New York — including by 7-1 and 5-2 scores in October — and winning five of their past seven meetings after losing six of their first seven in the all-time series.

Sam Feamster vs. Niagara — Senior forward and head captain Sam Feamster looks up the ice against Niagara.

Liberty came out firing in the first period, generating several high-quality shots on net, though all were turned away by Niagara goalie Jacob Dubinsky, with a couple deflecting off his helmet.

With 5:23 to play in the first period, the Purple Eagles started the scoring when Cullen McCormick capitalized on a quick counterattack with a one-timed finish in the left crease off Adam Sojka's perfectly placed assist from along the right boards.

Flames senior forward Ryan Finch nearly tied it up with a breakaway steal and point-blank backhand, but he was slashed on the play, and Liberty ended the period on its second man advantage.

After the Flames were unable to capitalize on special teams to start the second period, Finch received a feed from junior forward Luke Munroe before netting the equalizer at the 17:04 mark. He made a dazzling move between defensemen as he skated through the slot and finished with a phenomenal wrist shot over Dubinsky into the top-right corner of the cage.

"That was an awesome goal to get, especially the first one coming back from (Winter) Break, but one goal is not good enough," Finch said. "We've got to get some more to win games. (On Saturday), we've just got to get in front of the net and get more rebound shots because they have a good goalie, so we don't need them from the blue line unless we're screening and tipping."

However, after an interference call against the Flames, the Purple Eagles pounced quickly on the power play. A trio of Niagara players crashed the cage and Aiden Kalin pocketed a putback past Liberty junior goalie Nick Bernstein from deep in the right crease for a 2-1 advantage with 6:23 to play in the second period.

The Flames went on their third power play late in the second period but were unable to generate many quality chances on net.

"They're really good in protecting the house (goal)," Finch said. "We've just got to move it around and then we'll get them moving and then we can hit seams."

"We're going to tweak the lines tomorrow," Handy added. "We needed to be more dangerous within 20 feet of the net," Handy said. "That's an area we can continue to improve on tomorrow. We definitely want to get to the interior tomorrow when we're shooting, and make sure we have some good net-front traffic."

Nick Bernstein vs. Niagara — Sophomore defenseman Michael Adamek (left) blocks a shot in front of senior goalie Nick Bernstein, who made 28 saves in the setback.

Bernstein made a couple key saves of wraparound tries by the Purple Eagles early in the third period before allowing Seth Coulter's shot from beyond the blue line to skip off his pad, slipping through the five hole to extend Niagara's advantage to 3-1 with 16:54 remaining in regulation.

"That was a tough one," Handy said. "Bernie's played well for us all year (but) it's going to happen."

The game marked the Liberty debuts for spring semester recruits Bronson and Tanner Hunt, twin brothers from Long Beach, N.Y., who played on the same line, and defenseman Shane Burns from Southern California.

"The three new guys adjusted well for their first game," Handy said. "They have been fantastic. They will keep getting better, and we will be in a good place (Saturday)."

For the annual Star Wars contest, bumped up from 7 to 1 p.m. due to the heavy snow forecast for Saturday night, fans are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Star Wars characters' costumes while the Flames don Star Wars-themed jerseys. Those specialty sweaters will be auctioned off online through next weekend.

"I'm excited for tomorrow," said Finch, who is hopeful that Liberty can strike back against the empire from New York. "It will be a good game. I'm excited to get going and … to even the series."

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