Sunday, November 5
Ruston, La.
2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT
Liberty University
2
vs
1
New Mexico State
Liberty Wins Conference USA Women’s Soccer Title With a 2-1 Victory over New Mexico State
11/5/2023 6:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RUSTON, La. – The Liberty women's soccer team won the 2023 CUSA Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament with a 2-1 victory over No. 1 seed New Mexico State.
Midfielder Rachel DeRuby was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament having recorded three goals and two assists during the event (eight total points, one goal and one assist Sunday).
Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja was awarded Defensive MVP honors with a four-save performance Sunday and just a single goal allowed during the tournament.
Midfielder Saydie Holland and forward Allison Hansford were also named to the CUSA All-Tournament team.
Holland netted the game-winning goal with five minutes left in the game with a pinpoint header. Rachel DeRuby assisted on the go-ahead score on the corner opportunity.
DeRuby opened the scoring off a penalty kick during the 19' minute. Hansford drew a penalty attempting a cutback into the midfield after beating her defender into the box.
New Mexico State drew the match even off a near free kick that ricocheted off multiple bodies. The Aggies' Gianna Valenti score was her sixth goal of the season and her third of the CUSA Championship.
Liberty avenged its regular-season loss to New Mexico State, a 2-0 home loss on Sept. 30. The loss ended Liberty's 24-game unbeaten streak that dated back to Sept. 11, 2022.
The Lady Flames (16-2-1) secured their first conference championship since the 2021 spring season. Liberty topped No. 2 seed Kennesaw State for the ASUN title on April 17, 2021.
The Lady Flames were matched up with Washington in the NCAA women's Soccer Tournament, falling 3-0 on April 27.
This is Liberty's eighth conference title in program history and first as a member of Conference USA. The Lady Flames won six titles as a member of the Big South Conference (2000, 2001, 2005, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and one in the ASUN Conference (Spring 2021).
Liberty will find out their next opponent and destination in the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament selection show on Monday at 4 p.m.
Thoughts from Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer
"It was a really tough and gritty match. We were knocking on the door there at the end, creating a lot of chances. It was so gratifying to see us break through at the end. To God be the glory. Without Him, none of this would be possible."
Scoring Summary
19' – Liberty – Rachel DeRuby
35' – New Mexico State – Gianna Valenti (Carolina Rodriguez)
86' – Liberty – Saydie Holland (Rachel DeRuby)
Lady Flames News & Notes
Midfielder Rachel DeRuby was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament having recorded three goals and two assists during the event (eight total points, one goal and one assist Sunday).
Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja was awarded Defensive MVP honors with a four-save performance Sunday and just a single goal allowed during the tournament.
Midfielder Saydie Holland and forward Allison Hansford were also named to the CUSA All-Tournament team.
Holland netted the game-winning goal with five minutes left in the game with a pinpoint header. Rachel DeRuby assisted on the go-ahead score on the corner opportunity.
DeRuby opened the scoring off a penalty kick during the 19' minute. Hansford drew a penalty attempting a cutback into the midfield after beating her defender into the box.
New Mexico State drew the match even off a near free kick that ricocheted off multiple bodies. The Aggies' Gianna Valenti score was her sixth goal of the season and her third of the CUSA Championship.
Liberty avenged its regular-season loss to New Mexico State, a 2-0 home loss on Sept. 30. The loss ended Liberty's 24-game unbeaten streak that dated back to Sept. 11, 2022.
The Lady Flames (16-2-1) secured their first conference championship since the 2021 spring season. Liberty topped No. 2 seed Kennesaw State for the ASUN title on April 17, 2021.
The Lady Flames were matched up with Washington in the NCAA women's Soccer Tournament, falling 3-0 on April 27.
This is Liberty's eighth conference title in program history and first as a member of Conference USA. The Lady Flames won six titles as a member of the Big South Conference (2000, 2001, 2005, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and one in the ASUN Conference (Spring 2021).
Liberty will find out their next opponent and destination in the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament selection show on Monday at 4 p.m.
First year in, first Conference USA title??
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) November 5, 2023
Liberty moves on to the NCAA tournament with a 2-1 win over New Mexico State! pic.twitter.com/mRug576Crz
Thoughts from Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer
"It was a really tough and gritty match. We were knocking on the door there at the end, creating a lot of chances. It was so gratifying to see us break through at the end. To God be the glory. Without Him, none of this would be possible."
Scoring Summary
19' – Liberty – Rachel DeRuby
35' – New Mexico State – Gianna Valenti (Carolina Rodriguez)
86' – Liberty – Saydie Holland (Rachel DeRuby)
CHAMPS?? pic.twitter.com/PoJ93QSgxT
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) November 5, 2023
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty's two postseason players of the year, Rachel DeRuby (Midfielder of the Year) and Ainsley Leja (Goalkeeper of the year), added to their postseason awards. DeRuby was selected as the Offensive MVP of the CUSA Championship and Leja was named the Defensive MVP.
- DeRuby's score off the penalty kick was her third goal in two games at the CUSA Championship, with two coming off penalty kicks. The score today was her third goal off a penalty kick in three attempts this season.
- DeRuby leads Liberty with nine goals and 22 points (four assists).
- DeRuby recorded her second consecutive game with multiple points and her third of the season. The senior scored twice and assisted on another goal in Friday's 4-0 semifinal victory over Louisiana Tech.
- Holland's score was her eighth of the season. The senior now holds the team lead with five game-winning goals this season.
- Making four saves on Sunday, Leja recorded her 18th game allowing one goal or less this season.
- Four Lady Flames, Leja, Lena James, Rebekah Earnest and Sallie Garner, all played a full 90 minutes on Sunday. Leja has been in goal for every minute of 2023.
- Liberty outshot the Aggies 19-9 for the game. The Lady Flames also edged New Mexico State 12-5 in shots on goal.
Players Mentioned
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