Sunday, October 8
Chapel Hill, N.C.
2:00 PM ET
Liberty University
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North Carolina
(9-2)
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Liberty
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North Carolina
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Cian Scores in Double OT, No. 10 Liberty Defeats No. 1 North Carolina 2-1
10/8/2023 6:15:00 PM | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Martu Cian scored the game-winning goal in double overtime, lifting No. 10 Liberty to a 2-1 victory at No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
This is Liberty's second win over UNC in the last three seasons, both on the road at Karen Shelton Stadium and second all-time win over a No. 1 team in program history. The Lady Flames improve to 12-1 on the year and have won seven games in a row. The Tar Heels drop to 9-2 on the year and see an eight-game winning streak snapped.
Liberty is the first team ever to win two times at Karen Shelton Stadium. The Tar Heels have only lost four times at the facility since it opened in 2018.
Liberty fifth-year senior Bethany Dykema became the program's all-time record holder for career assists today with her 39th career assist.
Scoring Summary
10' – NORTH CAROLINA – Kiersten Thomassey (unassisted)
30' – LIBERTY – Jodie Conolly (Bethany Dykema and Reagan Underwood) | Penalty Corner
73' – LIBERTY – Martu Cian (unassisted)
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 12-1, seven saves
L: Maddie Kahn 8-2, two saves
Turning Point
The Liberty defense stood firm in overtime and double overtime, keeping UNC off the scoreboard despite five Tar Heels penalty corners.
In double overtime, the Lady Flames' Martu Cian dribbled up the left side of the field. The junior took on the entire UNC defense from the left edge of the circle and created the scoring chance moving to her right. Once she created separation, she blasted a shot into the left side for the victory at the 72:38 mark.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will return to action on Friday at BIG EAST foe Quinnipiac (5-6, 2-2 BIG EAST). Match time is 1 p.m. at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium in Hamden, Conn.
Liberty is 5-1 all-time against Quinnipiac. The Lady Flames shut out the Bobcats 5-0 last season in Lynchburg. In Liberty's five wins in the all-time series, the Lady Flames have outscored the Bobcats 29-3.
This is Liberty's second win over UNC in the last three seasons, both on the road at Karen Shelton Stadium and second all-time win over a No. 1 team in program history. The Lady Flames improve to 12-1 on the year and have won seven games in a row. The Tar Heels drop to 9-2 on the year and see an eight-game winning streak snapped.
Liberty is the first team ever to win two times at Karen Shelton Stadium. The Tar Heels have only lost four times at the facility since it opened in 2018.
Liberty fifth-year senior Bethany Dykema became the program's all-time record holder for career assists today with her 39th career assist.
Scoring Summary
10' – NORTH CAROLINA – Kiersten Thomassey (unassisted)
30' – LIBERTY – Jodie Conolly (Bethany Dykema and Reagan Underwood) | Penalty Corner
73' – LIBERTY – Martu Cian (unassisted)
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 12-1, seven saves
L: Maddie Kahn 8-2, two saves
Turning Point
The Liberty defense stood firm in overtime and double overtime, keeping UNC off the scoreboard despite five Tar Heels penalty corners.
In double overtime, the Lady Flames' Martu Cian dribbled up the left side of the field. The junior took on the entire UNC defense from the left edge of the circle and created the scoring chance moving to her right. Once she created separation, she blasted a shot into the left side for the victory at the 72:38 mark.
Key Stats & Notes
- This is Liberty's second win over a No. 1 team in program history. During the fall 2021 campaign, the Lady Flames bested top seed and No. 1 Rutgers 3-2 (4-2 in shootout) in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship Elite Eight (Nov. 14, 2021).
- Liberty hands UNC only its second loss in the last 32 games.
- Cian's goal was her sixth of the season, tied for most on the team. The midfielder has 21 career goals.
- Cian leads the squad with three game-winning goals.
- Dykema has 39 career assists, most in program history. The defender broke out of a tie with Serena Barr (38 assists, 2013-16) for first place all-time.
- Conolly's goal was her fourth of the season and 21st of her Liberty career.
- Liberty improves to 4-1 this season in games that have gone to overtime or a shootout.
- UNC held a 17-6 advantage in total shots, 8-5 edge in shots on goal and 12-5 advantage in penalty corners.
- This is the Lady Flames' second win over the Tar Heels in 10 all-time meetings. Liberty has won back-to-back games at Karen Shelton Stadium.
Liberty will return to action on Friday at BIG EAST foe Quinnipiac (5-6, 2-2 BIG EAST). Match time is 1 p.m. at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium in Hamden, Conn.
Liberty is 5-1 all-time against Quinnipiac. The Lady Flames shut out the Bobcats 5-0 last season in Lynchburg. In Liberty's five wins in the all-time series, the Lady Flames have outscored the Bobcats 29-3.
?????????? ???????? ???????? ????!!!
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) October 8, 2023
No. 10 Liberty has defeated No. 1 North Carolina 2-1 in double overtime!#CatchingFire ????? #RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/tIo9M1FfYW
Congrats to @bethanydykema, who is now the program's all-time assists leader with 3??9?? for her career!?? pic.twitter.com/5OytgEX4Hd
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) October 8, 2023
Team Stats
LIBERTY
NC
Goals
2
1
Shots
6
17
Shots on Goal
5
8
Saves
7
3
Corners
5
12
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Kiersten Thomassey (4)
Shot from right side off GK
9:17
CONOLLY, Jodie (4)
Assisted By: DYKEMA, Bethany , UNDERWOOD, Reagan
Penalty corner, shot into left side
29:16
CIAN, Martu (6)
Blast into left side
72:38
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
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D
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D
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GK
/ Field Hockey
M
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