Men’s D1 hockey splits weekend series with No. 4 Ohio Bobcats

It was a weekend of highs and lows for the Liberty men’s D1 hockey team as it split its series against Ohio University Feb. 17-18, winning Friday night in overtime and losing the ensuing night 4-2 at the LaHaye Ice Center. 

These two ACHA heavyweights, the No. 6 Liberty Flames and the No. 4 Ohio Bobcats, fought for supremacy over the weekend in Lynchburg with both teams earning a victory. The Flames came out on top Friday night 3-2 thanks to a stirring overtime goal scored by sophomore forward Jacob Kalandyk. However, the Bobcats dominated the following night, pulling away in the third period for a 4-2 victory. 

“Obviously, a great atmosphere tonight, but we came out flat,” Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said after Saturday’s loss. “We went 1 of 4 in the power play, they went 2 of 4. They won the special teams battle, and we had a five-minute power play that we didn’t capitalize on. … We have to do better on special teams. We have to figure out ways to play back-to-back games.”

Earlier in the season, the Bobcats pummeled the Flames in consecutive games 7-0 and 5-2 in Athens. With Pastor Jonathan Falwell talking to the team before the game in the locker room and with a raucous crowd primed for exciting hockey, the Flames outperformed themselves compared to the last meeting. 

This time around, the first game of the series saw spectacular goals, multiple lead-changes and a thrilling finish. Early in the first period, junior forward Jason Foltz’s follow-up shot gave the Flames the lead. Bobcats freshman forward Laker Aldridge, however, tied it up 1-1 before the first intermission. 

After a scoreless second period, Ohio took the lead for the first time with a power play goal scored once again by Aldridge. 

With just over seven minutes remaining in regulation, the Flames responded again with a long-ranged, super-goal scored by sophomore defenseman Nate Cox, his third of the season.  

“It was a big moment for me,” Cox said. “It just shows the character of our team and our culture that we have the mentality of never giving up. Even though we’re down one or two goals, we can come back and band together as a team and pull through with a win.”

The night ended with the LaHaye Ice Center shaking. Just 25 seconds into overtime, Kalandyk netted his 15th goal of the season to win the game for the Flames and send the crowd into a frenzy. 

While Friday night ended in dramatic fashion with Liberty dancing and celebrating on the ice, Saturday night did not go as well for the Flames. The Bobcats responded with a dominant performance to silence a sold-out LaHaye Ice Center; however, the Flames would not go down without a fight.

With Liberty trailing early on, freshman Reid Bogenholm scored the first goal of his collegiate career as he slithered through the Ohio defense. 

The Bobcats scored back-to-back goals to quiet the home crowd until junior forward Daniel Schwenke scored on a redirected shot to awaken the more than 4,000 fans in attendance and bring the game within one score. After surviving a 5-on-3 power play late into the second period and into the third, Liberty looked as if it could rally for a win. However, the Bobcats put to rest any chance for a Flames comeback, extending their lead to 4-2 with 5:36 remaining in the game.

After resorting to an empty net and failing to capitalize on several chances, the Flames could not narrow the two-goal deficit. They fall to 14-10-1 as the Bobcats improve to 26-6-1 in ACHA play. 

“We have to be better,” Handy said. “(The intensity) wasn’t there at all. We weren’t prepared the way we need to be, and that’s on all of us to make sure we change that going forward.”

Entering the final stretch of the regular season, the Flames will finish their home slate playing host to Minot State University, the No.1 ranked ACHA team in the country, Feb. 24-25 at the LaHaye Ice Center. 

Handy said it will be a “great opportunity” for the team next weekend and emphasized they “will be ready to go.” 

Rivas is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter