Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Wednesday, March 18
St. Louis, MO
TBA
Liberty University Club Sports
at
ACHA National Tournament
Liberty ACHA Division I women's hockey players celebrate a goal by senior forward and alternate captain Emerson Oakes in a Senior Day victory over Adrian College on Feb. 13 at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Ethan Smith)
DI Lady Flames hope to experience sense of déjà vu at ACHA national tournament
3/17/2026 6:30:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey
Top-seeded Liberty, making its third trip to St. Louis this season, will face the same two teams in pool play as last year, when it captured its seventh crown.
Veteran experience and youthful exuberance are two factors in favor of Liberty University's No. 1-ranked Division I women's hockey team at this week's ACHA National Championships in the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis.
In addition to graduate forward and alternate captain Zosia Adamek, who scored the game winner in double overtime last season against Maryville (Mo.) University that iced their seventh national title; graduate forward and head captain Brielle Fussy; graduate defenseman Sammy Peebles; senior defenseman and alternate captain Emerson Oakes; senior forward and alternate captain Haley Battles; and senior goalie and alternate captain could be playing their last games for the Lady Flames.
"There are a lot of key impact players, a lot of seniors for whom this will be their last nationals, and we hope they go out with a blast," Assistant Coach Mike Morrison said.
Liberty has benefited this season from the addition of graduate transfers Allison Shaw, a defenseman from Adrian (Mich.) College, and Isobel Pettem-Shand, a forward from Indiana Tech.
"Those girls came in and fit in really well," Morrison said. "They are such hard workers, and they quickly dialed into our culture and our systems. They were an easy fit."
Another advantage the Lady Flames lean on is the spiritual emphasis instilled by the coaching staff and enhanced by the team's designated Disciple Makers.
"Kudos to a lot of the captains and spiritual leaders on our team," Morrison said. "The girls do a great job with the spiritual side of things, and that definitely does bring unity within our team. There is a special bond. The players are encouraging in how they talk to each other and build each other up, and that does have a big part in our success."
The Lady Flames (30-0-1), who last played on Feb. 21 when they claimed their sixth Women's Midwest College Hockey Tournament title in the past seven seasons in Midland, Neb., with a 4-2 win over the host Warriors, were placed in the same pool as last season in St. Louis. Liberty will open play Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST against Grand Canyon (Ariz.) University, a team it defeated in the first-ever meeting last year, 7-0. Then on Friday at 9 p.m., they will face Niagara (N.Y.) University, a team it trounced, 6-1, to advance to the Final Four for the 12th season in a row.
"We like our draw," Morrison said. "We worked really hard all season to try to capture that No. 1 seed to get a pretty decent first and second game (in pool play)."
He said winning the WMCH conference crown raises Liberty's confidence level going into the national tournament.
"Coming home with that trophy and getting the confidence that we can win at that level and get through some really tough teams, helps a lot," Morrison said. "That was one of the biggest steppingstones to get us where we want to go and preparing all of us. But at nationals, anyone can beat anyone, so we still need to be ready to play. Emotions are higher, intensity is higher, the physicality of play is greater at nationals."
He said Liberty needs to play with purpose and remain on mission throughout the tournament, knowing the journey will only get tougher with every round.
"We want to be the hunters, not the hunted, to make sure we're staying hungry and executing to the best of our abilities with every detail of our game," Morrison said. "If you get out of your pool, from there on it's a dogfight the rest of the way. At that point (in the Final Four), anyone can win it."
The Lady Flames' focus is more on their own performance than that of their opponents.
"We play to our style, play to our strengths, and try to really home in on that rather than worry about what the other team is doing. We are going to focus on our systems and our execution. We have just been trying to have heavy practices, to simulate game situations, go over special teams, and dial in on specifics."
While it has thrived on special teams, converting on 37.6 percent of its power-play opportunities and killing off 87.3 percent of its penalties, with three shorthanded goals, Liberty is even stronger at even strength.
"We like to play a five-on-five game, and the details we want to win are mostly in five-on-five play," Morrison said.
The Lady Flames will be without the services of senior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp, who suffered a lower-body injury earlier this semester, and freshman forward Chloe Moses.
"Other than that, everyone is ready to go," Morrison said.
This week's ACHA National Championships are being streamed live by FloHockey.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
In addition to graduate forward and alternate captain Zosia Adamek, who scored the game winner in double overtime last season against Maryville (Mo.) University that iced their seventh national title; graduate forward and head captain Brielle Fussy; graduate defenseman Sammy Peebles; senior defenseman and alternate captain Emerson Oakes; senior forward and alternate captain Haley Battles; and senior goalie and alternate captain could be playing their last games for the Lady Flames.
"There are a lot of key impact players, a lot of seniors for whom this will be their last nationals, and we hope they go out with a blast," Assistant Coach Mike Morrison said.
Liberty has benefited this season from the addition of graduate transfers Allison Shaw, a defenseman from Adrian (Mich.) College, and Isobel Pettem-Shand, a forward from Indiana Tech.
"Those girls came in and fit in really well," Morrison said. "They are such hard workers, and they quickly dialed into our culture and our systems. They were an easy fit."
Another advantage the Lady Flames lean on is the spiritual emphasis instilled by the coaching staff and enhanced by the team's designated Disciple Makers.
"Kudos to a lot of the captains and spiritual leaders on our team," Morrison said. "The girls do a great job with the spiritual side of things, and that definitely does bring unity within our team. There is a special bond. The players are encouraging in how they talk to each other and build each other up, and that does have a big part in our success."
The Lady Flames (30-0-1), who last played on Feb. 21 when they claimed their sixth Women's Midwest College Hockey Tournament title in the past seven seasons in Midland, Neb., with a 4-2 win over the host Warriors, were placed in the same pool as last season in St. Louis. Liberty will open play Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST against Grand Canyon (Ariz.) University, a team it defeated in the first-ever meeting last year, 7-0. Then on Friday at 9 p.m., they will face Niagara (N.Y.) University, a team it trounced, 6-1, to advance to the Final Four for the 12th season in a row.
"We like our draw," Morrison said. "We worked really hard all season to try to capture that No. 1 seed to get a pretty decent first and second game (in pool play)."
He said winning the WMCH conference crown raises Liberty's confidence level going into the national tournament.
"Coming home with that trophy and getting the confidence that we can win at that level and get through some really tough teams, helps a lot," Morrison said. "That was one of the biggest steppingstones to get us where we want to go and preparing all of us. But at nationals, anyone can beat anyone, so we still need to be ready to play. Emotions are higher, intensity is higher, the physicality of play is greater at nationals."
He said Liberty needs to play with purpose and remain on mission throughout the tournament, knowing the journey will only get tougher with every round.
"We want to be the hunters, not the hunted, to make sure we're staying hungry and executing to the best of our abilities with every detail of our game," Morrison said. "If you get out of your pool, from there on it's a dogfight the rest of the way. At that point (in the Final Four), anyone can win it."
The Lady Flames' focus is more on their own performance than that of their opponents.
"We play to our style, play to our strengths, and try to really home in on that rather than worry about what the other team is doing. We are going to focus on our systems and our execution. We have just been trying to have heavy practices, to simulate game situations, go over special teams, and dial in on specifics."
While it has thrived on special teams, converting on 37.6 percent of its power-play opportunities and killing off 87.3 percent of its penalties, with three shorthanded goals, Liberty is even stronger at even strength.
"We like to play a five-on-five game, and the details we want to win are mostly in five-on-five play," Morrison said.
The Lady Flames will be without the services of senior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp, who suffered a lower-body injury earlier this semester, and freshman forward Chloe Moses.
"Other than that, everyone is ready to go," Morrison said.
This week's ACHA National Championships are being streamed live by FloHockey.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's D1 Hockey
F
/ Women's D1 Hockey
F
/ Women's D1 Hockey
F
/ Women's D1 Hockey
F
/ Women's D1 Hockey
D
/ Women's D1 Hockey
D
/ Women's D1 Hockey
D
/ Women's D1 HockeyRock the Rink Podcast: March 3 - Nationals Preview
Friday, March 06
Liberty WD1 vs Adrian Highlights
Thursday, February 19
Liberty WD1 vs Adrian Game 2 Recap
Wednesday, February 18
Liberty WD1 vs Adrian Game 1 Recap
Wednesday, February 18