Liberty University
7-5, 1-0ASUN
Delaware State
1-9, 0-1ASUN
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Liberty | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 22 |
Liberty Routs Delaware State 22-5 in Saturday’s ASUN Opener
4/2/2022 7:18:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
A total of 15 Liberty players scored on Saturday, as the Lady Flames routed the Delaware State Hornets 22-5 in their ASUN opener at the Liberty Lacrosse Field.Liberty improves to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in ASUN competition.
The Lady Flames are 3-0 all-time in ASUN openers and have a 3-0 edge in the all-time series. Liberty's 22 goals today are tied for the sixth most in a single game in program history and are the most since the Lady Flames scored 23 goals against Kennesaw State in last year's ASUN Championship semifinals (23-11 win).
Delaware State falls to 1-9 overall and 0-1 in the ASUN.
The Lady Flames' Mackenzie Lehman and Brooke Bryan led the way with three goals apiece. Four Liberty players scored their first career collegiate goals today: defender Mikayla Coghill, defender Alexa Evernham, midfielder Taiva Reinertson and midfielder Kate Troutman. Lady Flames freshman goalkeeper Taylor Gallarello made her first career save in her collegiate debut.
Scoring Summary
Liberty Goals: Mackenzie Lehman 3, Brooke Bryan 3, Lizzy Ferguson 2, Jordan Baerga 2, Anna DiRita 2, Andrea Colavito 1, Cami Merkel 1, Kate Troutman 1, Alexa Evernham 1, Leah Ruby 1, Tori Banks 1, Mikayla Coghill 1, Taiva Reinertson 1, Kelly Scott 1, Hannah Davis
Liberty Assists: Andrea Colavito 2, Jordan Baerga 1, Anna DiRita 1, Alexa Evernham 1, Lizzy Ferguson 1, Kim Hagerty 1, Cami Merkel 1, Leah Ruby 1, Jordan Sheive 1, Kate Troutman 1
Delaware State Goals: Mica Lambert 2, Mayerlin Santos 2, Dasia McQueen 1
Delaware State Assists: None
Goalkeepers
W: Jennifer Soriero 7-4, two saves
L: Yeda Couto-Erickson 0-2, seven saves
Turning Point
Liberty scored 10 goals in the opening quarter, its first 10-goal quarter of the season and in program history, to take a commanding 10-1 lead after 15 minutes. In that opening frame, midfielder Lizzy Ferguson scored twice to lead the way. Ferguson's second goal of the quarter, a behind-the-back goal at the 1:47 mark, put the hosts ahead by nine (10-1).
Coghill (12:04 mark) and Reinertson (7:48 mark) each scored their first career goals in the period, while Hannah Davis (4:56 mark) and Anna DiRita (4:39 mark) tallied goals 17 seconds apart for their first goals of the year. The Lady Flames outshot the Hornets 18-4 in the opening stanza and limited DSU to 1-of-7 on clearing attempts.
First Half Summary
• Liberty led by as many as 12 (13-1) in the opening stanza. The Lady Flames' 13th goal of the day came courtesy of Troutman at the 10:14 mark of the second quarter, her first career goal.
• The Lady Flames scored the first goal of the game at the 13:20 mark of the first quarter (Lehman) and never relinquished the lead (led for 58:20 of the game).
Second Half Summary
• The Lady Flames outscored the Hornets 9-1 over the final 30 minutes and 6-0 in the fourth quarter.
• Gallarello's first career save came on the first shot she saw. The Liberty freshman stopped Nina Dillard of DSU's free-position attempt with 12:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Key Stats & Notes
• Liberty had season bests in goals (22), assists (11) and points (33). DiRita had her first career three-point game (2 g, 1 a), and Colavito dished out two assists for the first time in her career.
• Liberty outshot Delaware State 37-14 and held advantages in draw controls (21-11) and ground balls (22-13) as well.
• The Lady Flames' Lehman led all players with eight draw controls, and Lucy Shimek had her first two career draw controls. Fourteen different Liberty players collected ground balls, led by starting goalkeeper Jennifer Soriero with three ground balls. A total of 20 different Lady Flames notched shots in the contest.
• Liberty entered the game averaging 13.18 caused turnovers per game and recorded 13 more on Saturday. DSU only tallied four caused turnovers in the contest. Hannah Quast paced the Lady Flames with three caused turnovers. Freshman Katie Rodriguez had her first career caused turnover.
• The Lady Flames held the Hornets to 43.8 percent (7-of-16) in the clear and converted 70.6 percent of their clearing efforts.
• A total of 32 Liberty players saw game action today. Freshmen Celena Kerr, Brooke Beard and Gallarello made their first collegiate appearances in the contest. Three Liberty goalkeepers played today: Soriero (first half), Mara Tellers (third quarter) and Gallarello (fourth quarter). Tellers led the Lady Flames with three saves.
Up Next
• Liberty will close out its four-game homestand against Stetson (3-8, 0-1 ASUN), next Saturday. Game time is noon at the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
• The Lady Flames hold a 3-0 all-time mark versus the Hatters. Liberty won 18-9 at Stetson in the last meeting (April 23, 2021).
