Flames tame Bobcats: Liberty hockey earns two more wins over Ohio Bobcats in road series

After hanging on to the series split against the fiery No. 2 Adrian Bulldogs team last weekend, the Liberty University men’s D1 hockey team made the trip to Athens, Ohio, searching for a pair of big wins over the No. 5 Ohio Bobcats.

Liberty entered the series ranked No. 7 in the nation, a noticeable drop from its previous standing of No. 5. Beating the Bobcats in Bird Arena, however, would likely do the trick in cracking its way back into the top five of the ACHA rankings just weeks before the long-awaited national tournament.

As the two teams faced off, Liberty got the scoring started quickly with a goal from freshman Mason Smith, who made the switch from forward to defenseman one week ago to aid the Flames’ injury-wrought back line. After the Bobcats answered with a score of their own from forward Hollander Thompson, freshman forward Ryan Finch kicked off his stellar weekend with an unassisted goal to put his Flames back on top.

While Bobcat powerhouse Luc Reeve managed to tie it up just before the second period, sophomore defenseman Reid Bogenholm and graduate forward Jackson Vercellono would both light the lamp in the second. A goal from Ohio’s Barron Stibbe wouldn’t be enough to claw the Bobcats back into it, and a solid third period of defense helped the Flames steal the win in game one.

The lingering challenge for the Flames this season, however, has been showing up with the same intensity for game two. Both teams entered Bird Arena lacking some of their key playmakers on Saturday, with Reeve out for Ohio and junior defenseman Colten Kovich absent from the lineup for Liberty.

Mathieu Ovaert scored first for his Bobcats, but a penalty call against Andrew Wells brought Liberty’s potent power play unit to the ice. With the puck on senior forward Jason Foltz’s stick, Foltz sniped a wrister glove side, beating Ohio goaltender Justin Damon to even the score.

In the second, senior forward DJ Schwenke capitalized on a costly Bobcats turnover, finding the puck all alone in front of the net to capture the lead. However, two Ohio goals in the late second and early third periods left it up to Liberty to pull off the comeback.

With just under three minutes remaining, sophomore defenseman Laz Kaebel sent a cross-ice pass the way of graduate forward Brett Gammer, who took his chance and buried it. The two teams were bound for overtime in Bird Arena.

With both groups going at it three-on-three, the Flames managed to pressure the Bobcats defense heavily in the opening minutes of overtime. Finch, who notched a goal in the series opener, then sent a backhanded shot through the five hole of Damon, cementing the sudden death victory for the Flames and a successful series sweep. The goal was Finch’s eighth of the season, as the skilled freshman has started to ignite in the team’s late season push before the ACHA National Tournament.

With two more wins against a quality opponent under their belt, the Flames now return home and look ahead to hosting the No. 10 Niagara Purple Eagles in the LaHaye Ice Center Feb. 16-17. Liberty will then close out its regular season slate with one final series against Ohio, attempting to earn six wins over the Bobcats on the year.

Cory is the sports editor for the Liberty Champion. Follow her on X