In the first game of the quarterfinals, Liberty tied Lindbergh 2-2. This tie made the second game do or die. Losing the second game would have ended Liberty’s season. Luckily, they were able to win the game 4-1 at Maryville University Hockey Center, advancing them to the Wickenheiser Cup semifinals.

In the first period, Liberty got the first penalty of the game at 13:24, with Nicholas Kuhn (11) getting a 2-minute minor for slashing. Lucas Kempf (12) got the first goal of the game for Liberty at 1:43, assisted by Greyson Howarth (12). The period ended with a penalty for Liberty, Reid Wells (10) getting 2 minutes for tripping.

Liberty started the second period on the penalty kill, and didn’t allow Lindbergh to score. No goals were scored in the second period, but many penalties were given out. Lindbergh got a penalty for cross-checking at 14:34, and another penalty for slashing at 12:28. Max Farber (10) then got a 4-minute double minor penalty at 0:31 for roughing, Lindbergh also getting a matching penalty, but only getting a 2-minute minor. Lindbergh then got one last penalty to end the period at 0:04.

Liberty got the first goal of the third period, Josiah Ditch (11) scoring at 10:18, with assists from Zach Pruss (12) and Mason Nickler (10). Lindbergh got their only goal of the game at 7:03. Liberty responded to that goal four minutes later at 3:03. Kuhn got the responding goal, assisted by Kempf. At 1:51, Ethan Peters (9) got a 2-minute minor penalty for roughing. Ditch got the last goal of the game at 1:43, which was unassisted. Due to Peters’ penalty, this goal was short-handed, as well as an empty net goal, Lindbergh pulling their goalie at 1:51. After the period ended, Lindbergh got a 10-minute and a 2-minute penalty for checking from behind. 

“I feel like we had a great game as a team collectively, everybody put in a great effort, everybody did their part” Ditch said. “I feel like we could’ve improved on through that second period, we kinda started running around instead of playing our positions.”

Caleb Hudson (9) started in goal and made 39 saves for the win.

“I feel like I played pretty good. I was able to control the game really well,” Hudson said. “Something I could have done better on was some of my rebounds were just not controlled very well.”

With this win, Liberty is set to play Priory in the semifinals. Priory played Eureka in the quarterfinals, where they won both games.

The semifinals will be played with the same format as the quarterfinals were played. There will be two games played, the team with the most points after those games advancing to the final game. If there is a tie in points, the teams will play a 10-minute mini game, and possibly go to a shoot-out if there is not a winner in the mini game. 

“I’m looking forward to just the students continuing to show up and cheer us on because this is the farthest we have ever gone,” Jake Meyer (10) said.

The games are set to be played at Centene Community Ice Center on Friday and Saturday. The game on Friday is at 9 p.m. in the NHL rink at Centene after the Coaches vs Cancer game.