Leja, DeRuby Headline Eight Lady Flames Featured in CUSA Postseason Honors
10/31/2023 1:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's soccer team had eight players selected to Conference USA All-Conference teams highlighted by Ainsley Leja receiving CUSA Goalkeeper of the Year honors and Rachel DeRuby being named the CUSA Midfielder of the Year. Three Lady Flames were also chosen for the CUSA All-Freshman team.
Liberty led all teams with eight selections to CUSA All-Conference teams. No. 1 seed New Mexico State followed Liberty with seven selections. The Lady Flames led the league with three selections to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
The Lady Flames' eight overall selections are the most All-Conference awards in a single season for a Liberty team including their time in the Big South and the Atlantic Sun.
The second-seeded Lady Flames (14-2-1, 5-2-1 CUSA) had five CUSA All-Conference first team honorees in Leja, DeRuby, Lena James, Saydie Holland and Ivy Garner.
Liberty had one selection, Bridie Herman, to the CUSA All-Conference second team, while featuring two CUSA All-Conference third team members in Ava Goodman and Allison Hansford.
Liberty's Sallie Garner, Avenley Monteith and Claire Valentine were all named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
Leja receives her second straight Goalkeeper of the Year award. The keeper was recognized as the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. In addition. DeRuby becomes the program's first-ever player to receive a midfielder of the year award.
The CUSA All-Conference team features two defenders, James and Herman with Sallie Garner added to the CUSA All-Freshman team, who were vital pieces in a Liberty defense that allowed just nine goals in 17 games this season and ranked No. 17 in the nation in goals against average (GAA). The Liberty defense led by Leja, was successful as midfielders DeRuby and Holland (CUSA Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 5) played key roles in the defensive effort.
The No. 2 seed in the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship, the Lady Flames have a first-round bye and will face either No. 3 seed Western Kentucky (6-4-7, 4-2-2 CUSA) or No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech (5-10-3, 2-4-2 CUSA) who will meet on Wednesday. Match time is set for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT from Robert Mack Caruthers Field in Ruston, La.
Ainsley Leja (Goalkeeper of the Year, First Team)
Leja adds to her accolades to her strong 2023 campaign. The keeper was recognized as a member of the CUSA All-Academic Team on Friday. The junior was a four-time CUSA Player of the Week (Aug. 22, 29, Sept. 5, 26) this season and leads CUSA and ranks No. 16 in the country with nine shutouts.
Leja also leads CUSA and ranks No. 21 in the country with a 0.53 GAA. She leads CUSA with a .816 save percentage. Leja has played every minute of the 2023 season, making 40 total saves. And recorded her first career assist this season in a 3-0 win at UNCW (Aug. 27).
Rachel DeRuby (Midfielder of the Year, First Team)
DeRuby was selected as the CUSA Midfielder of the Year after a campaign that saw her as a balanced attacker and defender. The senior is tied for the team lead with six goals and 14 points (two assists). DeRuby has also been a key piece on Liberty's defense and has always presented the Lady Flames a chance for a counter-attack.
The Oneida, N.Y ranks No. 24 in the nation with a .615 shot accuracy with 24 of DeRuby's 39 shots on goal this season. DeRuby started all 17 games for Liberty this season and played over 1,150 minutes.
Lena James (First Team)
James is a major piece of the defense during her time at Liberty. The senior was honored as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 and takes the majority of Liberty's free kicks and corner opportunities.
The Brownsburg, Ind. native made starts in 14 games this season, only missing three contests due to an injury. James played over 1180 minutes, averaging 85 minutes per game in 2023.
Saydie Holland (First Team)
Holland has provided a valuable presence for Liberty in the midfield. The senior, chosen as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5., is tied for the team lead with six goals and 14 points (two assists).
The Waverly, Tenn. native is second on the team with three game-winning goals. She also had a two-goal game in a 6-0 win over Sam Houston (Sept. 24). Holland made 17 starts this season, playing over 1,050 minutes.
Ivy Garner (First Team)
Liberty has relied on Garner's consistency at forward. The sophomore was selected as CUSA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 17. The forward is currently tied for the team lead 14 points and four assists. Garner has five goals and two assists this season.
The Hillsborough, N.C. native is tied for the team lead with four game-winning goals. Garner carried a five-match point streak with three goals and two assists from Aug. 27-Sept. 14. Garner made 17 starts for the Lady Flames, playing over 980 minutes this season.
Bridie Herman (Second Team)
Herman was a steady presence for a stout Liberty defense this season. The graduate senior recorded three assists this season.
The Springboro, Ohio native made 17 starts for the Lady Flames, playing over 1,000 minutes this season. Prior to the season, Herman was selected as the CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Ava Goodman (Third Team)
Goodman finished the 2023 regular season tied for the team lead with six goals (12 points). The sophomore also finished tied for the team lead with four-game winning goals.
The Pottsville, Pa. native played in all 17 games for Liberty, making 13 starts. Goodman scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-1 win at Louisiana Tech Sunday to close out Liberty's regular-season. Goodman has played over 840 minutes this season.
Allison Hansford (Third Team)
The third of Liberty's three sophomore forwards, Hansford tied a career-high with four goals this season and posted a career-high four assists (12 points). The sophomore recorded two multi-point games this season, scoring recorded two goals in a 3-0 win at UNCW (Aug. 27) and assisting on two scores in a 2-0 victory at VMI (Sept. 17).
The Athens, Tenn. native started all 17 games for Liberty, playing over 890 minutes this season.
Sallie Garner (All-Freshman)
As a redshirt freshman, Garner became a valuable piece of the Liberty's defense this season. Garner recorded two assists in 2023.
The Charlotte, N.C. native played in all 17 games for Liberty, making 13 starts this season. Garner played a full 90-minute match in three contests in 2023.
Avenley Monteith (All-Freshman)
Monteith exploded on the scene by scoring a game-winning goal in the opening game of the season, a 2-1 win, at VCU (Aug. 18). The freshman has tallied two goals and two assists this season (six points).
The Matthews, N.C. has appeared in 16 games while making seven starts and playing over 600 minutes this season.
Claire Valentine (All-Freshman)
Valentine was a key reserve at forward for the Lady Flames this season. Valentine recorded a goal and an assist, making an immediate impact by helping on Monteith's game-winning goal at VCU.
The Estero, Fla. native recorded her first career goal in Liberty's regular season finale, a 4-1 win at Louisiana Tech. Valentine appeared in 17 games for Liberty, coming off the bench in every game.
Liberty led all teams with eight selections to CUSA All-Conference teams. No. 1 seed New Mexico State followed Liberty with seven selections. The Lady Flames led the league with three selections to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
The Lady Flames' eight overall selections are the most All-Conference awards in a single season for a Liberty team including their time in the Big South and the Atlantic Sun.
The second-seeded Lady Flames (14-2-1, 5-2-1 CUSA) had five CUSA All-Conference first team honorees in Leja, DeRuby, Lena James, Saydie Holland and Ivy Garner.
Liberty had one selection, Bridie Herman, to the CUSA All-Conference second team, while featuring two CUSA All-Conference third team members in Ava Goodman and Allison Hansford.
Liberty's Sallie Garner, Avenley Monteith and Claire Valentine were all named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
Leja receives her second straight Goalkeeper of the Year award. The keeper was recognized as the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. In addition. DeRuby becomes the program's first-ever player to receive a midfielder of the year award.
The CUSA All-Conference team features two defenders, James and Herman with Sallie Garner added to the CUSA All-Freshman team, who were vital pieces in a Liberty defense that allowed just nine goals in 17 games this season and ranked No. 17 in the nation in goals against average (GAA). The Liberty defense led by Leja, was successful as midfielders DeRuby and Holland (CUSA Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 5) played key roles in the defensive effort.
The No. 2 seed in the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship, the Lady Flames have a first-round bye and will face either No. 3 seed Western Kentucky (6-4-7, 4-2-2 CUSA) or No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech (5-10-3, 2-4-2 CUSA) who will meet on Wednesday. Match time is set for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT from Robert Mack Caruthers Field in Ruston, La.
Ainsley Leja (Goalkeeper of the Year, First Team)
Leja adds to her accolades to her strong 2023 campaign. The keeper was recognized as a member of the CUSA All-Academic Team on Friday. The junior was a four-time CUSA Player of the Week (Aug. 22, 29, Sept. 5, 26) this season and leads CUSA and ranks No. 16 in the country with nine shutouts.
Leja also leads CUSA and ranks No. 21 in the country with a 0.53 GAA. She leads CUSA with a .816 save percentage. Leja has played every minute of the 2023 season, making 40 total saves. And recorded her first career assist this season in a 3-0 win at UNCW (Aug. 27).
Rachel DeRuby (Midfielder of the Year, First Team)
DeRuby was selected as the CUSA Midfielder of the Year after a campaign that saw her as a balanced attacker and defender. The senior is tied for the team lead with six goals and 14 points (two assists). DeRuby has also been a key piece on Liberty's defense and has always presented the Lady Flames a chance for a counter-attack.
The Oneida, N.Y ranks No. 24 in the nation with a .615 shot accuracy with 24 of DeRuby's 39 shots on goal this season. DeRuby started all 17 games for Liberty this season and played over 1,150 minutes.
Lena James (First Team)
James is a major piece of the defense during her time at Liberty. The senior was honored as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 and takes the majority of Liberty's free kicks and corner opportunities.
The Brownsburg, Ind. native made starts in 14 games this season, only missing three contests due to an injury. James played over 1180 minutes, averaging 85 minutes per game in 2023.
Saydie Holland (First Team)
Holland has provided a valuable presence for Liberty in the midfield. The senior, chosen as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5., is tied for the team lead with six goals and 14 points (two assists).
The Waverly, Tenn. native is second on the team with three game-winning goals. She also had a two-goal game in a 6-0 win over Sam Houston (Sept. 24). Holland made 17 starts this season, playing over 1,050 minutes.
Ivy Garner (First Team)
Liberty has relied on Garner's consistency at forward. The sophomore was selected as CUSA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 17. The forward is currently tied for the team lead 14 points and four assists. Garner has five goals and two assists this season.
The Hillsborough, N.C. native is tied for the team lead with four game-winning goals. Garner carried a five-match point streak with three goals and two assists from Aug. 27-Sept. 14. Garner made 17 starts for the Lady Flames, playing over 980 minutes this season.
Bridie Herman (Second Team)
Herman was a steady presence for a stout Liberty defense this season. The graduate senior recorded three assists this season.
The Springboro, Ohio native made 17 starts for the Lady Flames, playing over 1,000 minutes this season. Prior to the season, Herman was selected as the CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Ava Goodman (Third Team)
Goodman finished the 2023 regular season tied for the team lead with six goals (12 points). The sophomore also finished tied for the team lead with four-game winning goals.
The Pottsville, Pa. native played in all 17 games for Liberty, making 13 starts. Goodman scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-1 win at Louisiana Tech Sunday to close out Liberty's regular-season. Goodman has played over 840 minutes this season.
Allison Hansford (Third Team)
The third of Liberty's three sophomore forwards, Hansford tied a career-high with four goals this season and posted a career-high four assists (12 points). The sophomore recorded two multi-point games this season, scoring recorded two goals in a 3-0 win at UNCW (Aug. 27) and assisting on two scores in a 2-0 victory at VMI (Sept. 17).
The Athens, Tenn. native started all 17 games for Liberty, playing over 890 minutes this season.
Sallie Garner (All-Freshman)
As a redshirt freshman, Garner became a valuable piece of the Liberty's defense this season. Garner recorded two assists in 2023.
The Charlotte, N.C. native played in all 17 games for Liberty, making 13 starts this season. Garner played a full 90-minute match in three contests in 2023.
Avenley Monteith (All-Freshman)
Monteith exploded on the scene by scoring a game-winning goal in the opening game of the season, a 2-1 win, at VCU (Aug. 18). The freshman has tallied two goals and two assists this season (six points).
The Matthews, N.C. has appeared in 16 games while making seven starts and playing over 600 minutes this season.
Claire Valentine (All-Freshman)
Valentine was a key reserve at forward for the Lady Flames this season. Valentine recorded a goal and an assist, making an immediate impact by helping on Monteith's game-winning goal at VCU.
The Estero, Fla. native recorded her first career goal in Liberty's regular season finale, a 4-1 win at Louisiana Tech. Valentine appeared in 17 games for Liberty, coming off the bench in every game.
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