The Liberty University Division I Men’s Hockey team fell 4-3 to Drury University on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the LaHaye Ice Center.
The game was the second of a weekend series against Drury, with both matchups ending in defeat for the Flames. Liberty entered the weekend ranked No. 5 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association while Drury held the No. 7 spot, setting the stage for a competitive series between two top-ranked programs.
The Flames struck first when junior forward Zachary Nicholas found the back of the net, assisted by senior defenseman Mason Smith, giving Liberty the lead at 1-0.
Drury answered when junior forward Daniel Beaupre capitalized on a power-play opportunity and brought the score to 1-1. It was the first of three Panthers goals that resulted from a power play.
After the game, Head Coach Kirk Handy emphasized that Liberty struggled with overcomplicating situations on the ice.
“We’ve been trying to do too much,” Handy said. “We need to keep it simple.”
Liberty regained the lead early in the second period when sophomore center Bronson Hunt maneuvered past three Drury defenders before recording an assist with senior center Kal Essenmacher scoring the goal, giving the Flames a 2-1 advantage.
The Panthers responded with 1:43 remaining in the second period when senior forward Matthew Johnston scored on another power play.
Drury carried the momentum into the third period, adding two more goals to extend its lead to 4-2.
Although down by two goals late in the game, Liberty continued to battle. Freshman left wing David Utkin scored his first goal of the season with 1:33 remaining, cutting the deficit to 4-3 and giving the Flames a chance to force overtime.
Handy said the goal provided a spark when Liberty needed it most.
“He’s a good hockey player,” Handy said. “That was a big goal. It gave ourselves the opportunity to tie up the game.”
Despite a strong final push, Liberty was unable to mount a comeback.
While the weekend did not produce the results Liberty wanted, Handy remained confident in his team’s ability to improve.
“That was a good team,” Handy said. “They’ll be a top team in the ACHA, but we’re right there. There’s a couple things we have to refine and get better at, and we will.”
Handy also said veteran leadership is important.
“We have guys that have been here for years,” Handy said. “They know the culture. We’re going to learn from this. We have to stay positive on the bench. Anyone with any experience is going to be helpful.”
As Liberty looks ahead to the remainder of the season, Handy said improvement will require a collective effort from both players and coaches.
“It’s coaches and players all in a spirit with a high degree of willingness to want to get better,” Handy said.
The Flames look to apply those lessons as they take on Virginia Tech Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at the LaHaye Ice Center.
Potter is the NCAA women’s editor for The Liberty Champion.