Liberty University
(13-2, 6-0BIG EAST)
Providence
(6-10, 1-5BIG EAST)
Liberty Clinches Share of BIG EAST Regular Season Crown With Win Over Providence
10/22/2021 7:03:00 PM | Field Hockey
No. 9 Liberty clinched a share of the BIG EAST Conference regular season title with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Providence Friars at the Liberty Field Hockey Field, Friday.
Liberty runs its winning streak to 10 games and improves to 6-0 in the BIG EAST as well as 13-2 overall. Providence falls to 6-10 overall and 1-4 in league play.
The Lady Flames have earned at least a share of the BIG EAST regular season crown. A win over No. 15 Old Dominion (12-3, 5-1 BIG EAST) next Friday would also give Liberty its first outright BIG EAST regular season title in school history. The Lady Flames are in their sixth year in the league.
Liberty trailed Providence 2-0 midway through the third quarter before scoring five unanswered goals in the last 18:45 to secure the victory. All five of those goals came from different scorers: Jill Bolton (41:15), Bethany Dykema (43:55), Maddie Hosler (51:42), Charlotte Vaanhold (56:50) and Daniella Rhodes (59:05).
Scoring Summary
10' – PROVIDENCE – Sophia Pompeo (Niamh Gowing) | Penalty Corner
39' – PROVIDENCE – Sophia Pompeo (Marlies Kool)
42' – LIBERTY – Jill Bolton (unassisted)
44' – LIBERTY – Bethany Dykema (unassisted)
52' – LIBERTY – Maddie Hosler (Jodie Conolly) | Penalty Corner
60' – LIBERTY – Daniella Rhodes (Lizzie Hamlett)
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 13-2, zero saves
L: Asia Porter 5-10, 21 saves
Turning Point
With Liberty trailing 2-0 after the first 41-plus minutes, Bolton got the hosts on the board with her 15th goal of the season, trimming the Providence lead to 2-1 at 41:15. In the 44th minute, the Lady Flames' Bethany Dykema scored on a rebound, her eighth goal of the year, to even the match at 2-2.
Liberty's 11th and final penalty corner of the match proved to net the game-winning goal. Following a Dykema insert and Reagan Underwood stick stop and pass to Jodie Conolly, Conolly swept the ball to the right post to a sliding Maddie Hosler. Hosler redirected the ball into the cage for her fourth goal of the season and a 3-2 Liberty edge.
The Lady Flames tacked on goals in the 57th and 60th minutes (Rhodes and Vaanhold) for the 5-2 triumph.
Key Stats & Notes
• Liberty outshot Providence 39-2 in the contest and held an 11-1 advantage in penalty corners. The Lady Flames' 39 shots are the third most in a game in school history.
• Both Providence shots today went for goals. Sophia Pompeo scored both goals, which came in the 10th and 39th minutes.
• Ten different Liberty players attempted at least one shot in the contest, led by Bolton with nine shots and Daniella Rhodes with eight shots. Conolly recorded five shots, followed by Bethany Dykema with four shots.
• The Lady Flames entered the game as the nation's top offense at 4.21 goals per game and surpassed their season average with five goals.
• During Liberty's 10-game winning streak, the Lady Flames have outscored their counterparts 45-8. The longest winning streak in program history is 12 games, held by the 2013 team.
• Liberty improves to 8-0 against Providence, including a 7-0 mark since joining the BIG EAST Conference. The Lady Flames are 5-1 on their home turf, this fall.
• Providence goalkeeper Asia Porter made 21 saves in the contest, tied for the most saves in a game by a goalkeeper at the Division I level this season.
Up Next
Liberty will host No. 22 Kent State (11-4) in non-conference action at the Liberty Field Hockey Field, Sunday afternoon. Match time is 1 p.m. The Lady Flames are 2-0 all-time versus the Golden Flashes, who are currently on a six-game winning streak of their own.
Sunday is Senior Day for the Liberty field hockey program. Prior to the start of the match, Liberty will honor six players – Jill Bolton, Darby Brennan, Ashley Dykema-Pereira, Maddie Hosler, Kendra Jones and Alexis Paone – with a special Senior Day Ceremony.
Team Stats
POMPEO, Sophia (3)
Assisted By: GOWING, Niamh
Sliding goal from right post on corner
9:04
POMPEO, Sophia (4)
Assisted By: KOOL, Marlies
Forehand strike into left side
38:21
BOLTON, Jill (15)
Forehand shot past GK
41:15
DYKEMA, Bethany (8)
Scored on rebound
43:55
HOSLER, Maddie (4)
Assisted By: CONOLLY, Jodie
Sliding goal from right post
51:42
VAANHOLD, Charlotte (4)
Assisted By: BOLTON, Jill
Scored on open net off touch from 25
56:50
RHODES, Daniella (14)
Assisted By: HAMLETT, Lizzie
Knocked in from in front
59:05
