Liberty Men’s D2 Hockey defeats FGCU in series

The Liberty University Men’s D2 Hockey team swept Florida Gulf Coast University in a two-game weekend series Sept. 21-22. Last season the Eagles had the Flames’ number, defeating them in all four of their contests. The series sweep by the D2 Flames is especially monumental since the same flock of Eagles defeated Liberty’s Division I program Friday night. 

The Flames entered the ice for game one Saturday, ready to continue the momentum built from their previous weekend win against the Delaware Blue Hens. The two teams stayed neck and neck in the first period, but eventually junior forward Antonio Vidal scored the first goal for Liberty, giving the team positive momentum. From there, FGCU answered with two goals of its own, but Liberty took the win in the first game with three more goals scored by junior forward Mark Padgett, his younger brother sophomore forward Jacob Padgett and senior forward Jared Matley. 

“Florida is always an elite team regardless of division,” Flames Head Coach Ben Hughes said. “I think they have probably won the most national championships, particularly in the Division II level, in the last decade or so. We give them tons of credit. We love playing them. We love them as competitors, but it is always super respectful too. That’s how we want to play and ultimately how we want to compete.”

The next day, both teams got up early to finish the series in a 10:30 a.m. game. The rivalry between the Flames and the Eagles escalated during this game. The intensity was apparent as both teams scored multiple points in the first period.

FGCU took an early lead, but graduate forward and assistant captain Cooper Neal sliced through the Eagles’ defense and scored to tie the game. FGCU responded with another quick goal to halt the momentum of the Flames; however, Mark Padgett slid the puck in the goal in a frenzy around FGCU’s goal and tied the game again. Then he claimed his second goal of the day with a slap shot when the puck ricocheted off the boards, giving Liberty a 3-2 lead going into the second period.

“After getting that goal, you can tell the boys were fired up,” Mark Padgett said. “There was a total shift in momentum, especially being down that goal. It’s like having a good penalty kill or a good power play. It shifts the game in our favor, and I was lucky to get that goal.”

The Flames and the Eagles came out swinging in the second and third periods, with each team scoring multiple goals and accumulating multiple penalties, but the Eagles tied the game in the final 10 minutes of the third period. 

After a time-out called by Hughes, the Flames turned up the heat, and in the dying minutes, junior forward and assistant captain Joshua Martin scored the final goal and gave Liberty a 6-5 win.

“It was surreal,” Mark Padgett said. “Last year, we lost to these guys in the four games that we played them, so to come back to this year and then getting that two-goal lead yesterday and then today just back-and-forth just goals, it was an unbelievable feeling.”

After Liberty’s Division I team fell to the Eagles Friday night, the Flames made sure not to underestimate their opponents. 

“Obviously what happened with D1, it made us a little more aware on their skill set, but before that happened, we were ready to play,” senior goalie Lane Skon said. “We knew we needed to rise to the occasion and show them how we play hockey.”

Along with celebrating the huge win against its rival, the Men’s D2 Hockey team has continued playing with an undefeated season and a 4-0 record. Hughes commended his team members for their performance, but he knows the season is not over yet.

“We are not on top of the mountain,” Hughes said. “We have got to keep climbing. Our Stanley Cup is March 19. That’s when the (ACHA) championship game is.”

The Liberty Men’s D2 Hockey team will hit the road after an off-week to face Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4.

Warden is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.