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
Despite tropical storm Ophelia, Liberty women’s cross country team still competed in the Virginia Invitational on Saturday, facing off against a challenging field that included 12 nationally ranked opponents. The Lady Flames finished with a 19th place team finish at Panorama Farms, led by Adelyn Fairley’s 34th place showing.
The Liberty men’s team and the women’s runners who did not compete in the Virginia Invitational, will take part in the Paul Short Run, Sept. 30 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
FIELD HOCKEY (9-1, 2-0 Big East)
Liberty scored four second half goals to help lift them to a win over visiting Providence, 5-2, on Friday afternoon in Big East action. Lou Combrinck scored her first two collegiate goals while Ellie Livingston tallied her first career goal. Additionally, Tuti Dell Anna scored a goal for the third straight game and Martu Cian added her second goal of the season.
On Sunday, the Lady Flames earned a 7-1 road win at Longwood to improve to 9-1 on the season for the second time in program history.
Liberty will return to conference play on Friday afternoon at #19 Temple. Game time is 1 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Lady Flames are 12-1 all time against the Owls, including an 11-0 mark since joining the Big East.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (11-0, 2-0 CUSA)
Ava Goodman netted a misplayed ball from Middle Tennessee’s defense as she dribbled around a charging keeper to deposit the go ahead score in the net. Liberty defeated the Blue Raiders, 1-0, to earn the program’s first ever Conference USA victory.
On Sunday, Saydie Holland’s two goals helped push Liberty past Sam Houston in a 6-0 victory during the program’s first home CUSA matchup.
With the victory, Liberty extends its NCAA Division I leading unbeaten streak to 24 games (21-0-3). Liberty is also the only Division I program with a win for every result this season after Florida State played to a draw at North Carolina on Sunday.
Liberty has recorded five straight shutouts, not allowing a goal during its last 435 minutes. The Lady Flames have recorded eight total shutouts this season.
The Lady Flames will host New Mexico State in a CUSA matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER (5-2, 0-0 OVC)
Liberty was scheduled to face VMI on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, but the effects of tropical storm Ophelia had that match canceled.
The Flames are scheduled to open OVC play on Thursday against Chicago State. The match from Osborne Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL (7-5, 0-0 CUSA)
Liberty was swept, 3-0, in its two matches in Texas last week. The Lady Flames fell to No. 22 Houston and then Texas A&M. The slide continued as Liberty dropped its 5th straight setback following a 7-0 start to the season. The host Old Dominion Monarchs battled back from a 2-1 deficit to earn a 3-2 win over Liberty.
The Lady Flames did not play this past week but return to the court Friday and Saturday at Middle Tennessee.
