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 swept the men’s and women’s team titles with perfect scores while Edwin Kiprop notched his first career cross country victory in the men’s 6K at the 2025 Liberty Challenge. Allie Zealand and Jessica Palisca finished in third and fourth place in the women’s 4K, pacing nine Lady Flames in the top 11.
Liberty will not return to the course until the Flames and Lady Flames compete in the adidas XC Challenge, Sept. 19 in Cary, North Carolina.
#6 FIELD HOCKEY (4-1, 0-0 Big East)
Freshman Julieta Tornati scored her first collegiate goal late in the third quarter, helping lift Liberty to a 1-0 shutout win over Albany on Senior Night this past Friday. On Sunday, No. 2 North Carolina handed the Flames its first loss of the season, a 3-1 setback in a top 10 matchup at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels, who remain unbeaten on the season, saw a two-goal lead trimmed to one at the end of the third quarter via a Dara Semmartin goal. However, UNC held strong in the fourth quarter and tacked on an insurance goal on an empty net for the two-goal victory.
Liberty returns to the field to open conference play Friday at Quinnipiac at 1 p.m. in the only game this week.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (5-3-2, 0-0 CUSA)
Ivy Garner’s three goals plus Presley Kaiser’s first career goal pushed Liberty to a 4-0 triumph at home over UNCG. Garner secured her first career hat trick and moved into a tie for second in program history for most goals in a career with 24.
On Sunday afternoon, Liberty lost to No. 21 Kansas, 3-2. The two teams traded goals in the first half with Kansas holding a 2-1 lead at the break. The Jayhawks opened the scoring in the contest in the 10′, taking advantage of a shot that was initially saved but deflected back into play off the crossbar. Liberty quickly responded in the 16′ with midfielder Gabby Miranda equalizing, receiving a pristine assist from Ivy Garner. Her first shot was initially saved, but the rebound came right back to the junior’s feet and she buried the second chance opportunity. Kansas regained the lead in the 27′ and added to it in the 49′ to extend the lead to 3-1.Liberty added a goal in the 83′ when Halle Engle scored. Despite Liberty’s efforts, including a late corner kick in the 89th minute, Kansas held on for the victory.
The Lady Flames open conference play this week, hosting Missouri State Friday at 3:30 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER (4-0-2, 0-0 OVC)
Liberty played James Madison to a scoreless draw Saturday evening at Osborne Stadium to remain unbeaten on the season. Play throughout the match was relegated to the midfield, with neither team able to sustain an offensive attack. The Dukes did have a flurry of three shots at the end of the first half; however, Liberty goalkeeper Tyler Beck turned away all three attempts as time ran out in the half to keep the contest scoreless. The Flames came close to breaking through on the scoreboard late in the second half. Defender Lucas Kelly got a shot on a corner kick at the left post during the 85th minute, but JMU goalkeeper Erick Jaspers snatched it from the goal line to keep the game scoreless. A few seconds later, Liberty midfielder Spencer Moler sent a shot off the left goal post.
This week, Liberty hosts No. 11 UNCG on Friday at 7 p.m. and plays at Wake Forest on Monday at 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL (9-1, 0-0 CUSA)
Under the direction of first-year head coach Jeremy White, the Liberty volleyball team continued their strong play this week. The Lady Flames swept Norfolk State in three sets this past Friday, then defeated East Carolina in five sets Saturday, and defeated host William & Mary in four sets to win the Tribe Invitational.
On Monday, Liberty battled back from a 2-1 match deficit to down the visiting Radford Highlanders on Monday in the team’s home opener. The Lady Flames have run their winning streak to five matches and are off to their best 10-match start in program history.
This week, Liberty heads to Houston, Texas for the Cougar Challenge where the Lady Flames face McNeese and Houston on Friday and North Alabama Saturday in the final week before conference play begins.
