Liberty’s fall sports are officially underway all over campus, and we will provide weekly updates on all of the teams throughout the semester.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Liberty women’s cross country team recorded its best showing of the 2024 season to date, placing an impressive fourth at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. Meanwhile, five Flames broke 24:00 in the men’s 8K at Burke Golf Course, helping the men’s team finish 15th overall.
One day later, a second group of Liberty women’s cross country runners fared well in the 50th Paul Short Run brown race on Saturday. The Lady Flames came in third of 35 squads with freshmen claiming seven of the team’s top eight positions at Lehigh’s Goodman Campus Cross Country Course.
Liberty will compete in two different races on Oct. 19. The men’s team and top women’s runners will take part in the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, while the remainder of the Lady Flames will race at the Roanoke XC Invitational.
FIELD HOCKEY (6-5, 1-2 Big East)
Temple topped Liberty 5-1 in the Lady Flames’ Big East Conference home opener last Friday afternoon. It was the Owls’ first win over Liberty since the Lady Flames joined the Big East in 2016. Liberty entered the contest 12-0 against Temple since 2016 and 13-1 against the Owls all-time.
On Sunday, the Lady Flames were able to bounce back and stop a 2-game losing skid with a 5-0 shutout of Appalachian State in a non-conference match. It is the third shutout of 2024 and first since a 1-0 home victory over No. 4 Duke on Sept. 15.
Liberty will travel to Pennsylvania to take on Villanova on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. in their only contest this week.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (10-1-3, 2-1-1 CUSA)
Ivy Garner scored with just two minutes remaining to send the Lady Flames past UTEP in a 1-0 defensive battle from Osborne Stadium on Thursday night. On Sunday afternoon, New Mexico State evened the game with under 10 minutes remaining as the teams left Osborne Stadium with a 2-2 draw. Liberty held a 2-1 lead for the majority of the second half before the Aggies scored during the 83rd minute.
Liberty is back in action on Thursday playing at Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas at 7:30 p.m., and then again on Sunday in Ruston, Louisiana against Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER (5-3-1, 3-0 OVC)
The Flames used a smothering defensive effort for a 2-0 victory over Incarnate Word last Thursday evening in Texas. Michael Huss, the OVC leading scorer, and midfielder Aidan Morrison each scored for the Flames in the contest. On Sunday, Liberty recorded its second straight shutout, downing Houston Christian, 1-0. Midfielder Gabe Findley scored the game’s lone goal and Liberty turned in another solid defensive effort to down the Huskies. The Flames have won three consecutive games and remains unbeaten in conference play.
Liberty continues conference play this weekend with two additional road trips. The Flames take on Western Illinois on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and SIUE on Sunday at 2 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL (10-6, 4-0 CUSA)
Liberty continues their hot play on the court, defeating Jacksonville State in four sets on Friday and again on Saturday in five sets to remain unbeaten in conference play.
The Lady Flames were slated to play at FIU on Tuesday and Wednesday in Miami, but with Hurricane Milton threatening, those contests have been postponed with no makeup date announced yet. Liberty is scheduled to play at Kennesaw State on Saturday at 3 p.m. and again on Sunday at 1 p.m.
