In the first round of the Wickenheiser Playoffs, Liberty played MICDS, Webster Groves, and Parkway West. The Eagles beat MICDS and Webster, while tying West. This put them in first place in Pool C of the first round. The Eagles were able to move on to the quarterfinals, along with West, the top two teams advancing.

In the quarterfinals, Liberty is playing the Lindbergh Flyers. They are playing two games against each other, with a 10-minute mini game if necessary. The mini game will be necessary if there is a tie in point after the first two games are played. 

Liberty played their first game against Lindbergh on Tuesday at St. Peters Rec-Plex South. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

“I think overall we played a pretty good hockey game. We controlled the pace of the game for the first period and a half,” head coach Mark Turnipseed said. “Somewhere in the second, we kind of took a few shifts off, got a little bit lazy, started trying to force some passes that we just didn’t need to, which really changed the momentum of the game.”

In the first period, there were no penalties, and Liberty got the only goal. That goal was scored by Blaine Schroeder (9) at 2:08, assisted by Cam Winkler (11) and Jake Meyer (10).

Lindbergh got the only goals in the second period, scoring two back-to-back. There were no penalties in the second period.

“I thought we played really well other than a spurt in the second period where we had defense errors and we let in two goals,” Schroeder said.

To start the third period off, Liberty got the first penalty of the game. Zach Pruss (12) got a 2-minute minor for roughing at 11:26. This was Liberty’s only penalty of the game. Lindbergh then got a penalty for too many players on the ice at 9:48. Just six second later, while playing 4-on-4, Liberty tied the game. Lucas Kempf got the Eagles second goal of the game, assisted by Greyson Howarth (12) and Garrett Katz (11). Lindbergh got one last penalty for roughing at 7:45 to end the game.

“I was a little down when they scored the two goals, I need to stay more positive,” Kempf said. “When I’m positive, everyone seems to be positive.” 

Liberty plays there second game against Lindbergh tonight at 8:15 p.m. at Maryville University Hockey Center. This game determines which team will move onto the semifinals. If the game ends in a tie, the 10-minute mini game will be played. If the mini game ends in a tie, it will go to a shootout.

Three Stars of the Game:

1st – Colin Gerrein; 31 saves (Lindbergh)

2nd – Caleb Hudson; 19 saves

3rd –  Lucas Kempf; 1 goal