D2 Flames outscore Rowan Profs 11-5 in two-game series, split the weekend

The Liberty men’s D2 hockey team hit the ice this past weekend, splitting its series against Rowan University on Sept. 29 and 30. The Flames claimed a roaring victory on Friday, but then fell to Rowan the following afternoon in overtime at LaHaye Ice Center.

In the initial meeting on Friday, Liberty netted a puck less than a minute into the first period, as a goal from sophomore forward Richard Indermill put his team up 1-0. A few minutes later, around the 15:14 mark, Rowan would have its opportunity to even up the score, but junior goaltender Lane Skon would make the save. 

Soon after, senior forward Cooper Neal received a pass from sophomore forward Joshua Martin, scoring a wrist shot for the second goal of the night. Before much time could tick off the clock, sophomore defenseman Logan Johnson would extend the Flames lead to 3-0, netting a wrist shot from the point. 

Rowan saw an opportunity arise as forward Luke Tucker skated to the penalty box at the with four minutes remaining in the first, but this would not stop Flames from rising as junior Roman Lamoureux dashed on the breakaway, scoring a short-handed goal. 

The intensity and physicality picked up in the second period, with big hits being thrown on both sides. After a fairly even second period, with just 32 seconds left, sophomore forward Antonio Vidal sniped a shot over the shoulder of Rowan goalie AJ Colella and into the net, putting the Flames up 5-0.

The momentum for the Flames carried over into the third period, with Indermill netting his second of the game to give Liberty a 6-0 advantage. The Flames continued to dominate the third, but Skon’s shutout came to an end at the eight-minute mark, as Rowan found its first goal. 

Minutes later, the Flames answered back, with junior forward Joshua Sherwood backhanding goal number seven. Junior forward Jared Matley netted more before the conclusion of the game, deflecting a shot from sophomore Logan Starkey with less than two minutes left on the clock. The final score was 8-1 in favor of the Flames.

Game two of the series was a different story, however. The Flames picked up right where they left off the night before, but Rowan did not back down. 

The first goal for the Flames was scored at the 8:23 mark, but would be called back due to goaltender interference. 

Soon after, with six minutes on the clock, freshman forward Aaron Higgins would give the Flames a 1-0 lead, sniping one into the top left corner of the net. Rowan answered back almost immediately as forward Ryan Echavarria tied the game at one apiece. 

The Flames headed to the penalty box once again, giving Rowan a power play, which they used to their advantage as Rowan forward Mike Frattaroli shot one past Skon, giving them the 2-1 advantage to end the period.

Liberty had a rough start to begin the second period as they gave Rowan the man advantage again, with Vidal heading off the ice for a penalty at the 17:51 mark. Once again, Rowan would take advantage of this, scoring on the man advantage and increasing its lead to 3-1. Liberty continued to battle throughout the second, and at the 11:12 mark, senior forward David Hauke sniped one into the net from the bottom of the right circle, cutting Rowan’s lead to 3-2.

To begin the third, the Flames got the puck into the offensive zone immediately off the face-off, looking to even up the score. It would not be until the 8:14 mark that Lamoureux would net the game-tying goal for the Flames, shooting in between the legs of Colella. 

The two teams continued to duel it out, and with 49 seconds left in the game, the Rowan Profs scored what they thought would be the game-winning goal. However, after careful deliberation, the referees decided to take the goal back, sending the teams into overtime. 

In the overtime battle, however, Rowan would come out victorious, scoring at the 2:28 mark.

“Compared to the first game, I think we came out way slower,” Vidal said. “We let Rowan feel comfortable in the first period instead of scoring right away like we should have. We also had trouble staying out of the box, which lead to us being on the kill for a lot of the game.” 

The Flames now look ahead to their upcoming series against NC State, where they will play Thursday, Oct. 5 at Raleigh before returning to LaHaye Ice Center Friday, Oct. 6 to face the Icepack once again.

Pais is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion