Liberty University
(1-0)
Kent State
(1-1)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liberty | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
No. 6 Liberty Rolls to 9-0 Victory Over Kent State in Season Opener
8/27/2022 4:01:00 PM | Field Hockey
No. 6 Liberty opened its 2022 campaign in resounding fashion, rolling to a 9-0 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes in a neutral site game at the IU Field Hockey Complex on Saturday.
Liberty's nine goals are a new program record for a season opener and are tied for the fourth most goals in a game in school history. The Lady Flames' 25 points today (9 g, 7 a) are tied for the second most in a match in program history. The Lady Flames have now won five straight season openers.
Four Liberty players scored multiple goals, including Jodie Conolly, Daniella Rhodes, Lizzie Hamlett and Charlotte Vaanhold. Senior defender Bethany Dykema also found the scoring column and added two assists. Hamlett tallied a game-high and new career-high six points (2 g, 2 a).
Liberty improves to 1-0 on the young season. Kent State falls to 1-1 after its first loss of the season. The Golden Flashes edged host Indiana 1-0 in overtime on day one of the Hoosier Invitational, Friday afternoon.
Scoring Summary
3' – LIBERTY – Jodie Conolly (Bethany Dykema and Lizzie Hamlett) | Penalty Corner
7' – LIBERTY – Daniella Rhodes (unassisted)
15' – LIBERTY – Lizzie Hamlett (Daniella Rhodes) | Penalty Corner
18' – LIBERTY – Charlotte Vaanhold (unassisted)
19' – LIBERTY – Lizzie Hamlett (unassisted)
22' – LIBERTY – Daniella Rhodes (Lizzie Hamlett)
32' – LIBERTY – Bethany Dykema (unassisted)
56' – LIBERTY – Jodie Conolly (Reagan Underwood and Bethany Dykema) | Penalty Corner
58' – LIBERTY – Charlotte Vaanhold (Anna Miller)
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 1-0, zero saves
L: Cecile Van Eijck 1-1, nine saves
Turning Point
Liberty's high-octane offense took control from the early going, scoring three times in the opening quarter. The Lady Flames converted on their first drawn penalty corner of the season, as Conolly found the right side of the cage at the 2:57 mark for a 1-0 lead. Bethany Dykema and Hamlett both assisted on the goal.
Rhodes tallied her first of the season, scoring on a rebound just over three minutes later at the 6:21 mark. Later in the quarter (14:05 mark), Liberty's lead grew to 3-0 when Hamlett tipped in a penalty corner offering from Rhodes.
Key Stats & Notes
• Liberty, which led the country in scoring a season ago, is the first team in the NCAA this season to score nine goals.
• Liberty outshot Kent State 31-5 in the game, holding a 23-2 edge in shots on goal. The Lady Flames held a 27-1 edge in total shots over the first three quarters.
• The Lady Flames improve to 4-0 all-time against the Golden Flashes.
• Liberty bolsters its record to 8-4 in season openers.
• Liberty's nine goals are its most in a game since the Lady Flames also scored nine times against Davidson on April 11, 2021. The Lady Flames also led the nation in four offensive categories during the fall 2021 season: goals per game (3.48), scoring average (3.38), assists per game (3.00) and points per game (9.96). Today's performance
• A total of 20 Lady Flames saw playing time today. Pima Iturraspe (starter), Lou Combrinck (starter), Anna Miller, Maitland Demand, Gianna Miller and Tori Griffiths each made their Liberty debuts in the contest. Miller tallied her first career assist on Liberty's final goal of the day (57:28 mark, Vaanhold).
• Rhodes' two-goal game gives her 47 career goals. She is three away from 50 and two behind Sarah Gipe (49 goals, 2012-15), who ranks No. 4 in program history.
• Vaanhold's pair of goals were the 30th and 31st of her career.
• This is the second straight year in which Hamlett has set a new career high for points in a season opener. Last year at UC Davis, the midfielder recorded four points (1 g, 2 a), a new career best at the time.
• Bethany Dykema and Hamlett's performances both put them over 50 career points. Dykema's four-point effort gives her 52 points (14 g, 24 a), while Hamlett's six-point game brings her up to 51 points (18 g, 15 a).
• Iritxity Irigoyen (1-0) earned the victory in cage for the Lady Flames. The junior is 32-6 all-time at Liberty. Santia McLaughlin came on in relief of Iritxity Irigoyen in the fourth frame and made the Lady Flames' only two saves of the afternoon.
• Liberty's previous record for goals in a season opener was seven, set at UC Davis in 2021.
Up Next
No. 6 Liberty will face host Indiana (0-1) to close out the Hoosier Invitational, Sunday afternoon. Match time is Noon at the IU Field Hockey Complex in what will be the first-ever meeting on the pitch between the two schools.
Team Stats
CONOLLY, Jodie (1)
Assisted By: DYKEMA, Bethany , HAMLETT, Lizzie
Scored on corner into right side
2:57
RHODES, Daniella (1)
Scored on rebound
6:21
HAMLETT, Lizzie (1)
Assisted By: RHODES, Daniella
Tip on penalty corner
14:05
VAANHOLD, Charlotte (1)
Reverse strike into left side
17:13
HAMLETT, Lizzie (2)
Reverse blast into left side on rebound
18:38
RHODES, Daniella (2)
Assisted By: HAMLETT, Lizzie
Scored from in front on feed from 1
21:16
DYKEMA, Bethany (1)
Scored from left side on corner
31:16
CONOLLY, Jodie (2)
Assisted By: UNDERWOOD, Reagan , DYKEMA, Bethany
Scored on short corner
55:16
VAANHOLD, Charlotte (2)
Assisted By: MILLER, Anna
Reverse through GK's legs off feed from
57:28
