The Liberty University Men’s Division I Hockey team defeated the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) 9-0 Sept. 11 at the LaHaye Ice Center.
Three minutes into the game, senior center Luke Munroe scored the first goal of the season, assisted by junior defenseman Joseph Feamster and freshman left wing David Utkin.
A high-stick penalty was called on Liberty at 9:16, giving senior forward Mac Ratzlaff a two-minute penalty.
Soon after, a fight broke out between graduate student center Tucker Shields and UNC’s junior defenseman Issa Mansour. However, neither player was penalized.
The room was electric when Flames junior left wing Liam Cox-Smith scored, assisted by sophomore defenseman Michael Fischer, and senior center Kal Essenmacher.
The period ended with Liberty leading UNC 4-0.
When the game resumed, a roughing penalty was called on UNC’s sophomore defenseman Harveer Kamboj and Flames graduate student right wing Ryan Finch, causing 4-on-4 play to begin.
Flames freshman goalie Austin Caley put up a strong fight in the box to keep UNC from scoring.
Tar Heels freshman forward Ethan Balamucki was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking, giving Liberty a power play at 8:44.
The second period was a defensive battle with neither team putting a puck in the goal. Momentum shifted back to the Flames as the final period of the game began. Feamster scored the first goal of the third period to increase the Flames’ lead 5-0.
“It’s a great feeling knowing it’s my last year because I know there’s nothing to save it for, I think (I get to) have fun and leave it all on the table,” Feamster said.
At 14:25, senior defenseman Luke Anderson scored the Flames’ sixth goal of the night, assisted by Finch and Munroe. Finch scored another goal for the Flames at 10:03, followed by goals from Essenmacher, sophomore forward Tanner Hunt, and senior defenseman Michael Adamek.
The final goal of the night was scored by senior forward Michael Debrito, which secured the 9-0 shutout for the Flames.
The Flames return to the LaHaye Ice Center Sept. 18 to take on Florida Gulf Coast University. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Hoagland is a sports reporter for The Liberty Champion.