Niagara falls: Liberty improves to 10-0 against Purple Eagles, caps series sweep with 7-1 rout

Friday, November 13

Lynchburg, VA

1:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Niagara University

Senior forward Ellie Sarauer, who scored two goals against Niagara on Friday, leads a fast break in Thursday's late-night series opener. (Photo by SarahCaroline Shepler)

11/13/2026 8:15:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

Graduate forward Brookelyn Beauchamp contributed two goals and two assists, and senior forward Ellie Sarauer netted her second and third goals of the series.

Liberty University's No. 2-ranked ACHA Division I women's hockey team completed a dominating sweep of No. 4 Niagara (N.Y.) University with a 7-1 triumph Friday afternoon in its final home game of the semester at the LaHaye Ice Center.

The Lady Flames (11-2) improved to 10-0 all-time against the Purple Eagles (5-3-1).

"It was a good team win," Liberty Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "All of our (forward) lines are producing right now. We're getting offense and running all of our (defensemen). It was a really good weekend to get the sweep."

Freshman forward Marissa Richard started the scoring for the Lady Flames just 2:22 after the opening faceoff, finishing assists from graduate forward Allison Greene and junior forward Hayley Lee off a fortuitous bounce past Niagara goalie Maddison Webster.

"We're starting to get the chemistry going," Richard said of her linemates. "I was behind the goal line and I tried to pass it to Hayley Lee in front, but it hit off the goalie's skate and went in."

"I really liked our start," Lowes added. "Getting the first goal was big, and we looked a little more dangerous in the first (than in Thursday night's 4-0 shutout win). Second period might be my favorite period. We outshot them 13-5 and we were just very much in control."

The Lady Fames doubled their advantage at the 14:47 mark on the first of two goals by senior forward Ellie Sarauer off the first of two assists from graduate forward and alternate captain Brookelyn Beauchamp, who also scored twice.

"Ellie had a great weekend," Lowes said. "She scored once yesterday, so she was really big for us. She's had a great year, but had been a little bit snakebitten scoring-wise, so it was good to see her get going. He first goal today was maybe one of the prettier team goals we've scored from (Beauchamp) on the give-and-go off the cycle. (Sarauer) bumped it down and (Beauchamp) circled and gave it back for the score. Beauchamp looked aggressive. It was a good day for her, too."

After Niagara cut the deficit in half on a goal by Layla Rushforth with 13:41 to play in the period, Liberty senior defenseman and head captain Sophia Adamek answered off an assist from junior forward Presley Ellis for a 3-1 advantage at the 7:22 mark.

The Lady Flames kept the Purple Eagles off the scoreboard the rest of the day and padded their lead with two goals in the second period and two more in the third. Beauchamp netted her first off a feed from senior forward Sienna McClinchey with 7:44 left in the second before McClinchey stretched Liberty's lead to 5-1 on a fast-break finish off assists from Sarauer and junior defenseman Brooklyn Voortman with 25 seconds left.

Then in the third, Beauchamp scored her second goal unassisted at the 15:28 mark before Sarauer followed with her second off assists from junior forward Brooke Olson and Beauchamp for the final 7-1 count with 11:12 to go.

Liberty outshot the Purple Eagles by a 2-to-1 ratio (46-23) and graduate goalie and alternate captain Alex Keith made 22 saves to secure the sweep.

"They've got some shooters and especially when they were on the power play, she had to be ready," Lowes said. "Even that five-on-three (late in the third period), those are scary and it's hard to defend that."

"I don't think it was easy," Richard added. "Everyone worked hard and made it happen. We had a few turnovers, but we cleaned it up afterwards."

Before traveling to Finland for the second time in four seasons over Christmas Break, Liberty will conclude its fall semester schedule before Thanksgiving by traveling to the St. Louis area for the second time this season. The Lady Flames will play three games in three days — against No. 9 Maryville (Mo.) University on Nov. 19 in a rematch of the 2025 ACHA National Championship final won by Liberty for the seventh time; No. 7 Minot State (N.D.) University on Nov. 20 at Maryville in a rematch of their fifth national title in 2023; before concluding 2026 play against No. 2 reigning national champion Midland (Neb.) University on Nov. 21 at McKendree (Ill.) University in a rematch of last season's triple-overtime setback against the Warriors in the final.

"It's going to prepare us for (ACHA) Nationals," Richard said.

"It's a big weekend," Lowes added. "All conference game, all top teams, especially Minot and Midland, so it will be really good for us. We're excited. One more week of practice and we'll go test ourselves in St. Louis. We're in a good spot. It's been a good, semester and this was a really good weekend for us."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer