Bobcats pounce early, snuff Flames before they can heat up in rematch

Saturday, February 21

Lynchburg, VA

7:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Ohio University

Junior forward Luke Munroe skates between two Ohio players in Saturday night's rematch. (Photos by Ethan Smith)

Bobcats pounce early, snuff Flames before they can heat up in rematch

2/22/2026 12:13:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey

Photo Gallery

For the second straight night, Ohio opened a 3-0 lead midway through the first period, this time quieting Liberty’s comeback bid.

Gallery: (2-22-2026) DI men's hockey vs. Ohio Game 2

Liberty University's No. 6-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team missed back-to-back opportunities to close the gap on No. 3 Ohio University in this weekend's final regular-season games at the LaHaye Ice Center.

The Bobcats (28-6) seized a 26-25-1 lead in the all-time series by completing a sweep of the Flames (19-10-2) with a 5-2 victory in front of a sell-out crowd on hand for Senior Night over College For A Weekend (CFAW).

As in Friday night's series opener, the Bobcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the first period after Hollander Thompson scored first, 26 seconds after the opening faceoff. Gavin Keller wrapped a pass from the right boards around to Luc Reeve stationed behind the left post where he relayed a short feed to Thompson for a point-blank finish. Noah Holt added a second goal three minutes later and capitalized on his second goal with three seconds left on a power play at the 11:19 mark.

Ohio never relinquished the lead, answering the Flames' only score in the first period with its fourth goal in the closing minute.

"Tonight, at the end of the day, we never gave up," Flames Assistant Coach Ben Hughes said. "Our guys had energy and fight in them the whole game up until the last second. Besides the first 10 minutes of both games, we liked our product."

Liberty got one goal back in four-on-four action, with freshman defenseman Shane Burns finishing feeds from freshman defenseman Michael Fischer and senior forward Ryan Finch with a powerful take on a fast-break sprint down the slot. Burns showcased his athleticism by pocketing the puck past Bobcats goalie Scott Bird while driving hard on net and maintaining his balance after being slammed from behind into the backboards.

The Flames threatened again at the 4:00 mark after Burns intercepted a loose puck in the offensive zone and dished a pass to junior forward Luke Munroe for a near finish in the left crease.

In the final 39 seconds of the period, the Bobcats struck back with a quick counterattack, with Nolan Abraham lifting his shot over the glove of Kausch into the top-right corner of the cage.

Senior goalie Nick Bernstein replaced Kausch in net, and both teams remained scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the second period. After a media timeout, Ohio padded its lead to 5-1 by slicing through Liberty's defense with Lance Mengle finishing feeds from Barron Stibbe and Drake Nabozny with an open shot in the right of the slot for the only goal Bernstein allowed in two periods.

"The first 10 minutes of the second period, we had three or four Grade-A chances where we could have had the puck in the back of the net, and it just didn't bounce our way," Hughes said. "It's hard to constantly have to create momentum for yourself when things aren't going your way."

Bernstein made several quality glove and kick saves to keep the Bobcats from building their advantage, giving the Flames a fighting chance to get back in the game. They were unable to capitalize until late in the third period, when Fischer received a pass from sophomore forward Tucker Shields, who netted his second goal of the series on a laser of a shot from along the left boards that sneaked past Bird into the lower-left corner of the cage with 1:22 to play.

Ohio outshot Liberty by a 38-27 count and scored on its only power-play opportunity while stifling the Flames on their three chances.

Liberty has less than three weeks to prepare for the ACHA Division I National Championships at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Hughes said motivation will not be a problem as Liberty sets its sights on St. Louis.

"If we can't get up for nationals, we probably don't deserve to be there," he said. "We'll be ready, regardless of how we ended the regular season."

While the Bobcats secured their No. 3 seed, if not higher, and first-round bye at nationals, the Flames will finish ranked outside of the top four and will need to win five games to capture their first national title.

"We do have a lot of guys banged up, for sure," Hughes said. "But that's been the M.O. for the season, so it's got to be next-man-up."

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