Liberty University’s Women’s Division I Hockey team extended its shutout streak to six games following a clean sweep in a weekend series against Lindenwood University Oct. 17-18 with final scores of 8-0 and 7-0.
To begin Friday’s competition, graduate student forward Zosia Adamek won the opening faceoff and took the puck down to Lindenwood’s side of the ice.
“We owned a lot of offensive zone time,” Head Coach Chris Lowes said. “So I think when it comes to scoring, … there’s a lot of decision making and then the execution part. … We did a good job with traffic.”
Senior forward Haley Battles put up the first goal for the Lady Flames with a slap shot from the slot. The goal was made possible by assists from freshman forward Chloe Moses and junior defenseman Sophia Adamek.
The teams traded possession before Zosia Adamek sent one to the back of the net with assists from Sophia Adamek and graduate student defenseman Allison Shaw for a 2-0 lead.
It was a quiet second period until another point was put up by graduate student forward Isobel Pettem Shand, with assists from sophomore forward Presley Ellis and senior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp, to bring Liberty’s lead to 3-0 going into the third period.
The Lady Flames reignited their spark in the third, with three goals scored within three minutes of play. Junior forward Ellie Sarauer led the charge with a goal four minutes into the period. Two minutes later, senior defenseman Emerson Oakes sent another one in, and sophomore forward Brooke Olson clinched the 6-0 lead less than a minute later.
“I think we were in control of the game and did some good things, but our standards are pretty high. … I loved our third,” Lowes said.
Beauchamp was able to increase the lead again at minute 14 off assists from Pettem Shand and Shaw.
The final goal of the game came from Battles to end with a Liberty win 8-0.
The Lady Flames and the Lady Lions returned to the rink Saturday afternoon with Lindenwood looking for redemption. Liberty opened scoring early in the first period with sophomore defenseman Isabelle Pelletier slotting one between the pipes off an assist from Moses just under a minute into the game.
Battles followed close behind with a goal of her own with the help of Shaw and graduate student defenseman Sammy Peebles. To further extend the Lady Flames’ lead, Craig snuck one into the net with assists from Battles and Shaw later on in the period.
To close out the first period, Zosia Adamek put one on the board with an assist from sophomore defender Jules Lefaive and sophomore forward Brooklyn Voortman to raise the score to 4-0.
Captain and graduate student forward Brielle Fussy emphasized the importance of strong leadership within the team.
“Since we have a younger team this year, there’s so many girls that don’t wear a letter that step up and be leaders every single day and that will never go unnoticed by us,” Fussy said.
In the middle of the second period, Liberty found its chance to break through, as the forward line took it down to Lindenwood’s zone for Pettem Shand to nail one between the pipes.
By the end of the period, Liberty fired off multiple shots on goal, with one point added to the lead of 5-0.
The Lady Flames brought that momentum into the final period as Fussy knocked one into the back of the net with the assist from Sophia Adamek in the first minute of play.
To end the period Shaw scored the final point of the night to bring the score to 7-0 to secure the weekend sweep.
The Lady Flames will be hitting the road to face the Adrian College Lady Bulldogs for a weekend series Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 3 p.m.
“We got a really good group of girls, and not just talented, but they’re a fun group to go battle with,” Lowes said. “… We go on the road next week against probably our biggest rival, Adrian, so I think the girls are going to be really excited to be pushed a bit.”
Stewart is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.