Competing in West Chester, Pa., and St. Louis, respectively, Liberty University’s top-seeded ACHA Division I men’s and women’s hockey teams both captured conference championships over second-seeded opponents on Sunday.
The Flames (33-4) dominated Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL) rival Stony Brook, 4-0, scoring two goals in the first five minutes of the first period and leaning on freshman goalie and tournament MVP Cédric Le Sieur (15-1), who made 34 saves and recorded his first shutout. Liberty, ranked second in the ACHA, won its third ESCHL tournament title after winning its third regular season championship to clinch an autobid to the March 19-24 ACHA Division I National Championships in Frisco, Texas.
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames (26-2) needed a game-winning goal by senior forward Alex Smibert with 16.7 seconds remaining in regulation to edge second-seeded Minot State (N.D.) in the championship of the inaugural Women’s Midwest Collegiate Hockey League (WMCHL) Tournament, 2-1. It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams, and could be a preview of the national championship game in three weeks.
The Lady Flames, who have been ranked No. 1 in the nation in every ACHA Division I poll this year, will contend for their third national championship in a row and fourth in six seasons in Frisco from March 25-29. The Lady Flames locked up the No. 1 seed and will face eighth-seeded Colorado in the best-of-three quarterfinals.