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 men’s cross country squad claimed the team title at the adidas XC Challenge. The Lady Flames, meanwhile, posted a third place finish at the WakeMed Cross Country course. Nicholas Kiprotich, Edwin Kiprop, and Tristian Merchant placed 6-7-8 individually in the men’s 6K, helping the Flames record a five point victory over meet host NC State atop the 14-team men’s field.
Allie Zealand came in seventh in the women’s 5K pacing four Lady Flames inside the top 14. Liberty trailed NC State and Clemson among the 14 women’s teams.
The adidas XC Challenge was Liberty’s lone September meet. The team will split up between two competitions in the first weekend of October, including the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and the Paul Short Run.
FIELD HOCKEY (5-4, 1-1 Big East)
Liberty picked up its first Big East conference win of 2024 by knocking off Providence, 2-1 on Friday afternoon in Rhode Island. The victory snapped a two-game losing skid for the lady Flames. Liberty scored twice in the game’s first 11:19 to build a two-goal advantage.
On Sunday, the Lady Flames dropped a non-conference contest, 4-2, on the road at No. 17 Albany in the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Two more matches for Liberty this weekend, hosting Temple on Friday at 1 p.m. before playing host to Appalachian State on Sunday at noon.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (9-1-2, 1-0 CUSA)
The unbeaten season for Liberty women’s soccer came to a close on Friday with a 3-0 setback at home against FIU. The two teams battled through rain throughout the first half of the contest with the Panthers taking an early 1-0 lead on a first minute free kick goal. FIU boosted its lead to 2-0 in the 41’ minute.
Liberty is back in action on Thursday playing host to UTEP at 6 p.m. and then New Mexico State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER (3-3-1, 1-0 OVC)
Forward Michael Huss scored three goals in a game for the first time in his career as the Flames opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 7-1 victory over Western Illinois. Huss scored the first three goals of the match and leads the conference with seven goals on the season. Liberty scored four goals late to cruise to the victory.
Liberty continues conference play this weekend with two road trips. On Thursday, the Flames play at Incarnate Word at 8 p.m. and then on Sunday takes on Houston Christian at 8 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL (8-6, 2-0 CUSA)
Liberty won the final three sets on Friday to rally for a conference-opening 3-1 victory over Louisiana Tech. On Saturday, the Lady Flames cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Bulldogs to open CUSA play at 2-0.
The Lady Flames will play host to Conference USA foe Jacksonville State for two contests this weekend beginning Friday at 6 p.m. and then on Saturday at 1 p.m. Liberty then heads to Miami for some midweek action, taking on FIU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and then a rematch with the Panthers on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
