Sports
Ohio Hockey gets back on track with 5-2 win over Liberty
By: Lindsey Crawford
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Coming off a heartbreaking loss last weekend, the Ohio D1 Hockey team made their way back to the ice, hoping to redeem themselves against Liberty, after splitting games with rival Niagara.
The game started with Kathy Straley dropping the ceremonial puck in honor of her daughter, Lilly. Tonight’s special event features Lilly’s Sunshine Fundraiser, a foundation started by Straley to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Research, in hopes of finding better treatments for her daughter’s condition.
Off to a slow start, both teams showcased their strong defense, making it difficult to get the puck anywhere near the goal. The scoreboard would remain blank until Ohio’s Nolan Abraham found the back of the net with a little over seven minutes left in the first. The period would end with the Bobcats leading 1-0, with 15 shots on goal, and the Flames trailing close behind with 14.
Into the second, the Bobcats came back to the ice exuding the same intensity and drive as they had the period prior. Unfortunately for Ohio, Liberty’s Hayden DeMars was able to slip one past Bobcat Goalie, Scott Bird, bringing the score to 1-1 halfway through the second. However, Ohio’s Mattieu Ovaert would not let that slide, adding a goal of his own to the scorebook with an assist from Spencer Schons. With just 38 seconds left, Lazarus Kaeble forced his way to the goal to tie the game.
Going into the third, Ohio knew it was important to maintain its composure. Last week against Niagara, the team struggled to hang on and made mistakes late into the game that cost them the match.
“I think we played some good hockey the last couple of weeks, it just was really inconsistent,” Schutte said. “Our focus going into this weekend was that we just need to be our best self more of the time.”
With coaches’ locker room words of wisdom still lingering, Ohio’s Collin Felton scored his first goal of the night just four minutes into the third. Both teams would battle to make their way down the ice, but with about a minute left, Mattieu Ovaert and Nolan Abraham would each find the net once more to put the final nail in Liberty’s coffin.
The Bobcats would end the evening with a 5-2 win over the Flames.
Ohio and Liberty will face off for the second sold out game of their series Saturday night at 7 p.m.