Lynchburg, Va. — Road woes continue for the University of Delaware Division 1 men’s hockey team (15-10-0, 20th ACHA M1), who dropped both halves of a weekend two-game set to Liberty (20-3-0, 2nd ACHA M1), 5-2 on Friday (Jan. 17) and 10-3 on Saturday (Jan. 18), at the LaHaye Ice Center. Despite being undefeated at home, the Blue Hens are 3-10 on the road and have now lost their last four games.
Friday, Jan. 17 — Liberty 5, Delaware 2
After mounting a 2-1 lead through one period, the Blue Hens gave up four unanswered goals to lose their first of four meetings with the Flames this season. Defenceman Jake DeFares and bottom-six winger Greg Jandoli both found the back of the Liberty net in the first period, but the Hens were kept scoreless through the final 40 minutes while the Flames tore to victory.
Jordan Bochinski scored the game-winning goal for the Flames with 1:02 left in the second period, and he also accounted for two assists. Cole Gammer added a goal and two assists as well, and Brock Thompson contributed a goal and an assist. Cedric Lesieur won in net for Liberty with 23 saves on 25 shots, while Chris Ponticello registered 41 saves on 46 shots faced in defeat for Delaware.
Saturday, Jan. 18 — Liberty 10, Delaware 3
Liberty rolled over the Hens in their second meeting, setting the tone with three first-period goals and peppering Ponticello with a further 45 shots on their way to a commanding 10-3 win.
Gammer led the Flames with two goals — including the game winner — and three assists, Jordan Bochinski contributed a goal and three assists, and seven other Flames skaters scored goals. Mike Nisky potted two for the Blue Hens, and defenceman Harrison Good scored one.
The game took an unfortunate turn in the final 37 seconds, when Josh Fricks of Liberty and Gavin Hulser of Delaware engaged in fisticuffs. Both were issued majors and game misconducts.
Ponticello stopped 35 shots in defeat, while Tyler Myers earned the win in net for Liberty with 26 saves on 29 shots.
The Delaware Division 1 Blue Hens return home on Friday (Jan. 24) for the first half of a two-game set with New York University.
