LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The No. 2 Adrian College Women's ACHA Division 1 hockey team closed its 2024-25 regular season this week with a highly-touted match-up at No. 1 Liberty University. The Bulldogs returned home with 7-2 and 5-2 losses.
The top two teams in the nation faced off at the LaHaye Ice Center in Lynchburg on Friday and Saturday afternoon for what's always a fun and exciting battle between the two rival programs. Over the history of the match-up, the Flames have unfortunately had the Bulldogs' number, having won 31 of the 37 total meetings since the first time way back in 2013 going into this weekend's games. That dominance continued as the Bulldogs struggled to extinguish the Flames, dropping both contests to the 6-time National Champions and No. 1 team in the nation.
On Friday, Adrian gave up seven, while only finding the back of the net twice, courtesy of
Hailey Wiltshire and
Keira Eagleson. Between the pipes,
Amanda Storey, the fifth-year transfer goaltender who came to Adrian from Liberty, stopped 34 of 41 shots in her return to Virginia.
Tess McKerrow grabbed an assist and
Nadia Nickel provided two helpers in the effort.
In a bit more of a tighter contest on Saturday, the Bulldogs and Flames traded goals through the first two periods of playing, heading into the final frame knotted at 2-2.
Rhea Peterson scored for her 100th career ACHA point while
Amelia Smolinski tallied the other Bulldog goal, with
Chloe Gregory,
Kali Foerster, and Eagleson registering helpers. As action continued in the third period, the Flames went back to work, potting thrice more, including one into the empty cage, and holding off the Bulldogs for a 5-2 victory. Adrian's
Rieley Jessie-Gerelli stood in goal, making 39 saves on 43 shots her way.
The WD1 Bulldogs and defending national champions close the regular season with a strong 26-5-3 overall record, along with an undefeated CCWHA conference record and will now prepare for the CCWHA Conference Playoffs where they'll enter as the No. 1 seed. Action begins later this week at the Eddie Edgar Ice Arena in Livonia, Michigan.
Information regarding scheduling and broadcasting will surface later this week.
