Lady Flames dam up Beavers in WMCH semifinal triumph

Thursday, February 19

Fremont, NE

TBD

Liberty University Club Sports

Minot State University

Brielle-Fussy-DI-womens-hockey-Minot-State

Lady Flames junior Ellie Sarauer, senior Haley Battles, and graduate forward and head captain Brielle Fussy control the puck in a game against the Beavers last season. (Photo by Ryan Anderson)

Lady Flames dam up Beavers in WMCH semifinal triumph

2/21/2026 12:15:00 AM | Women's D1 Hockey

Top-seeded Liberty received goals from five different players, and senior goalie Alex Keith stood on her head in a 5-1 win over fourth-seeded rival Minot State.

Liberty University's ACHA Division I women's hockey team advanced to the WMCH Tournament final with a 5-1 semifinal triumph over Minot State, Friday night at Sidnor Ice Arena in Midland, Neb.

The game was a rematch of last season's WMCH tournament final, won by Liberty, 2-1. Minot State had eliminated the Lady Flames by the same score in double overtime in the semifinals of the 2024 ACHA DI National Championships, ending their ACHA-record streak of five consecutive crowns.

Liberty shut out the Beavers (16-6-8) twice this season by 3-0 scores on their home ice in Minot, N.D. Seeded fourth, Minot was coming off a 10-2 triumph over fifth-seeded Maryville in Thursday's quarterfinals, while the Lady Flames (32-0-1) advanced to the semifinals with an 11-0 rout of Minnesota.

"It was a good game by us," Liberty Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "To get out of the season 3-0 against a team like that was pretty awesome. We know we could see all these teams again. We know they're going to be at nationals and amped up. We are excited to go out (Saturday) and compete for a championship. We're on a good run, but it is going to take a really good effort."

The Lady Flames will face No. 2-seeded tournament host Midland, an 8-2 winner in Friday's second semifinal over No. 3 McKendree, in Saturday's 5 p.m. (EST) final. Liberty won its only matchup with the Warriors this season by a 4-3 count after opening a 3-0 lead in last month's Maryville Showcase.

"Midland is a mix of a rival and a respected team," Lowes said. "We have a lot of respect for them, as one of those leaders and founding members of the conference."

Against Minot, Liberty only held a 36-33 shot advantage on the Beavers, but senior goalie Alex Keith made 32 saves to preserve the win.
Freshman forward Brooke Olson started the scoring with 1:27 remaining in the first period off an assist from junior forward Ellie Sarauer.

"That was a really great and important goal to get in the first period," Lowes said. "Olson picked up a loose puck, walked out of the corner, and ripped it top shelf. Minot's got a really good goalie, Jillian Ackerman, and that was a clutch shot to put us up early."

The Warriors struck a crossbar with a shot, and Keith kept Midland scoreless in the first period. Junior forward Tristan Craig doubled the Lady Flames' lead off an assist from sophomore forward Presley Ellis. Graduate forward Brielle Fussy padded the Lady Flames' lead off feeds from alternate captain Zosia Adamek and fellow graduate forward Isobel Pettem-Shand.

"We got up 3-0 before they got their first one, scoring on a shot from the top of the circle through a heavy screen," Lowes said of Kinley Brassard's lone goal for the Beavers with 1:50 to play in the second period.

"The first five minutes of the third period were important as they had a real push to start the third, and we had to hold on. Alex made a couple big saves before we added a couple insurance markers. It was a really big win, and I am excited for the girls."

"We're pretty banged up right now, and didn't bring (sophomore forward Hayley) Lee, (senior forward Brookelyn) Beauchamp, and (freshman forward Chloe) Moses, and girls have been stepping up," he added. "Other girls are playing a lot more minutes, and I'm happy to see girls step in and play well and make the most of their opportunities."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer