Liberty University
(5-2, 1-0BIG EAST)
Villanova
(3-5, 1-1BIG EAST)
No. 19 Liberty Blanks Villanova in BIG EAST Opener
9/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
No. 19 Liberty shut out host Villanova 4-0 in its 2018 BIG EAST opener on Friday evening at the Villanova Field Hockey Field.
Lady Flames sophomore Jill Bolton scored two times, and senior Agueda Moroni added four points (one goal, two assists) in the victory.
Liberty is now 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the BIG EAST and has won its last two matches. The Lady Flames have won all three of their conference openers since joining the league prior to the 2016 season.? Villanova (3-5, 1-1 BIG EAST) suffers its first conference setback of the season.
Scoring Summary
4' | LIBERTY - Jill Bolton (unassisted)
16' | LIBERTY - Agueda Moroni (Moniek van Aarle)
51' | LIBERTY - Alivia Klopp (Agueda Moroni) | Penalty Corner
63' | LIBERTY - Jill Bolton (Agueda Moroni)
Goalkeepers
W: Allison Schaefer 5-2, three saves
L: Erika Miller 3-5, six saves
Turning Point
Liberty took an early 1-0 lead at the 3:57 mark and never looked back. Senior midfielder Abby Julius sent a ball into the right side of the box that was tipped by a Villanova defender. The ball found the stick of sophomore Jill Bolton, who blasted a powerful shot into the upper right side of the goal.
Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty outshot Villanova, 15-6, and held an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal. Moroni and Bolton shared game-high honors with five shots apiece and four shots on cage each.
- The two-goal effort by Bolton was the second multiple-goal game of the season for her and the fourth of her career.
- Liberty's prolific offense (No. 5 in the country, 3.67 goals per game coming in) scored at least four goals for the third time this season.
- Goalkeeper Allison Schaefer's three-save effort gave the junior the sixth shutout of her career.
- Moroni now has four games of four or more points this season. The Argentina native leads the Lady Flames in goals (11), assists (6) and points (28).
- The Lady Flames drew a season-best 10 short corners on the evening, compared to five for the Wildcats.
- Freshman Alivia Klopp scored on a penalty corner tip for a second straight contest. Last Sunday, her diving tip goal was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 listing.
- In fitting fashion, three of the four Liberty goals were scored by Pennsylvania natives (two by Bolton, one by Klopp). Ten of Liberty's 26 players hail from Pennsylvania.
- Senior Moniek van Aarle recorded her first point of the season, assisting on Moroni's goal.
- Liberty held a 5-2 advantage in shots in the first half despite playing shorthanded for stretches. At one point, the Lady Flames drew consecutive green cards and were forced to play 9-on-11.
- This is the second straight year Liberty has shut out Villanova. ?
- The Lady Flames are now 3-0 all-time in BIG EAST openers, with all three wins coming against the Wildcats by a combined 12-1 count. Liberty is 4-0 is the all-time series.
- Liberty is 4-1 away from its home turf in 2018 and has won three straight road games.
Up Next
Liberty will head to Easton, Pa., for a non-conference matchup with the Lafayette Leopards (1-6, 1-0 Patriot League) on Sunday afternoon. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at Rappolt Field.
Team Stats
BOLTON, Jill (6)
GOAL by LIBERTY BOLTON, Jill (FIRST GOAL), goal number 6 for season.
3:57
MORONI, Agueda (11)
Assisted By: VAN AARLE, Moniek
GOAL by LIBERTY MORONI, Agueda, Assist by VAN AARLE, Moniek, goal number 11 for season.
15:29
KLOPP, Alivia (3)
Assisted By: MORONI, Agueda
goal after corner
50:06
BOLTON, Jill (7)
Assisted By: MORONI, Agueda
GOAL by LIBERTY BOLTON, Jill, Assist by MORONI, Agueda, goal number 7 for season.
62:08
