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
Liberty seniors Adelyn Fairley and Nicholas Kiprotich swept the individual titles during the Flames’ season opening Liberty Challenge at the Liberty Cross Country Course. Freshman Allie Zealand finished second in the women’s race. In total, the lady Flames grabbed seven of the top nine spots in the unscored competition against Lynchburg, the No. 5 ranked squad in NCAA Division III.
On the men’s side, Kiprotich, Tristian Merchant, Kyle Harkabus, and Nathan Moore made it a 1-2-3-4 Flames showing against Lynchburg, also ranked No. 5 in the D3 ranks on the men’s side.
Liberty will return to action on Sept. 20 in the Adidas XC Challenge in Cary, North Carolina.
#12 FIELD HOCKEY (2-1, 0-0 Big East)
The Lady Flames were edged 2-1 by #3 Virginia on Sunday afternoon in the team’s home opener. Liberty’s Josefina Tomasi tied the score at 1 early in the fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers’ Jans Croon scored on a penalty corner in the 56th minute to secure the victory.
Liberty will face William & Mary on Friday at 3 p.m. and Duke on Sunday at 1 p.m., both home matches.
#24 WOMEN’S SOCCER (7-0-1, 0-0 CUSA)
Halle Engle’s two goals led Liberty to its first ever victory over a ranked team, topping #21 Virginia Tech last Thursday night. The Lady Flames had dropped its first nine opportunities against ranked opponents. The win also marked the program’s second ever victory over Virginia Tech, having done so previously in 2003.
On Sunday, Liberty earned a 1-1 draw at West Virginia to remain unbeaten. West Virginia broke a scoreless tie with 10 seconds left in the first half. Lauren Littleton was credited with her first career goal to tie the game with just over 10 minutes remaining. The score was changed to an own goal for WVU after the game. For the first time in program history, the women’s soccer team is now ranked in the top 25, checking in at #24.
The Lady Flames continue their five-game road swing on Thursday night at Georgia Mason at 7 p.m. Liberty then faces UNC Greensboro on Sunday at 1 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER (2-1-1, 0-0 OVC)
Three Flames scored their first collegiate goal in a 5-2 Liberty victory over USC Upstate on Friday. The host Spartans took a 1-0 advantage before Liberty struck with two goals prior to the halftime break before pulling away.
The Flames are back in action on Saturday, playing at JMU at 7 p.m. before hosting Presbyterian on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL (3-3, 0-0 CUSA)
The Liberty volleyball team went 2-1 in three matches in Annapolis, Maryland as part of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational. The Lady Flames swept Navy in straight sets on Thursday before losing in three sets to Cornell Friday. On Saturday, the Flames got back in the win column with a five-set victory over UC San Diego. On Wednesday, the Lady Flames lost in four sets in Raleigh against NC State.
The Lady Flames are back in action this weekend in the Liberty Tournament. The Flames are scheduled to host ETSU and Virginia, both on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. Liberty will take on West Virginia on Sunday at 1 p.m.
