Lynchburg, VA – A trio of second period goals rallied the visiting University of Mary to a 3-3 draw with Liberty University in the first-ever meeting between two of the nation's top ACHA Division II programs. Seth Cushing posted a pair of goals and Alex Flicek added a goal and an assist as the Marauders overcame a two-goal deficit.
 
The Marauders proceeded to outscore the Flames 2-1 to win a lengthy shootout that ended on a goal by Tanner Eskro and one final save by Kyle Hayden.
 
UMary, ranked second in the final ACHA D2 poll of 2019-20, remains undefeated on the year and holds a record of 5-0-0-2. This was Liberty's first game of the season. The Flames ranked third in last year's final rating.
 
The Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead after posting single goals in each of the first two periods.
 
Flicek eventually got the Marauders rolling when he found the net at 4:35 of the middle period to pull the Marauders within a goal.
 
Cushing then erupted to tally twice in a blink of an eye. Taking a feed from Flicek, Cushing found the net for the eighth time this season at 11:04 of the second period, tying Flicek for the team lead while knotting the game. Cushing then struck again 34 seconds later to provide the Marauders their first lead of the night at 3-2.
 
The Flames struck quicky to start the third period when Tim Doe scored on the power play less than a minute out of intermission.
 
Both Hayden and his Flames counterpart Dakoto Cyhaniuk managed to turn away all other shots faced the rest of regulation and overtime, including a scorching shot in the slot from the Marauders Jaren Hugelen with under 45 seconds left in the third.
 
Following a scoreless overtime session, Cushing scored immediately in the shootout for the Marauders before Niederer followed a couple rounds later with the equalizer. Both goalies then turned aside multiple attempts before Esko provided a 2-1 lead for UMary. Hayden ensured UMary's shootout win with a big save on the subsequent attempt by Liberty.
 
The two teams next meet on Friday, Oct. 23, at 2:15 pm ET / 1:15 pm CST in the second of three games between the Marauders and the Flames.
 
FINAL University of Mary 3 Liberty University 3 (Marauders outscore Flames 2-1 in shootout)
 
University of Mary         0          3          0          0          - 3
Liberty University          1           1           1          0          - 3
 
First Period 
1. LU, Blake Flanders 1 (Luke McFarlane), 16:31. Penalties Peyton Nash, LU (Push from Behind), 1:17. Bench, LU (Too many men), 5:18.  
 
Second Period 
2. LU, Stephen Guadalajara 1 (JD George, Josh Wagner), 2:40. 3. UMary, Alex Flicek 8 (Drew Lenertz), 4:35. 4. UMary, Seth Cushing 8 (Flicek, Kyler Moore), 11:04. 5. Cushing 9 (Moore, Lenertz), 11:38. Penalties Andrew Huber, UMary (cross check), 14:25. Huber, UMary (interference), 19:45. Lenertz, UMary (Roughing), 19:45. George, LU (Roughing), 19:45.
 
Third Period
6. LU, Tim Doe 1 (Blake Flanders, Darren Carter) ppg, 0:57. Penalties Cyril Nagurski, UMary (slashing), 4:20. Bench, LU (too many men), 5:08.
 
Overtime
No Scoring. Penalties Moore, UMary (Interference), 0:54.
 
Shootout: UMary goals by Seth Cushing, Tanner Eskro. Liberty goal by Michael Niederer.
 
Shots on Goal: UMary 7-10-7-3 27. LU 7-8-9-2 26.
 
Power play opportunities: UMary 0 for 4; LU 1 for 4.
 
Goalies: UMary Kyle Hayden 3-0-0-1 (26 shots – 23 saves). LU Dakoto Cyhaniuk (27 shots - 24 saves).
 
T: 2:30
 
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