Liberty to Face Georgia in First Round of NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship
11/6/2023 6:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's soccer team, winners of the CUSA Championship, will face the SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.
The Lady Flames and Bulldogs, the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Championship, will meet in Athens, Ga., at the Turner Soccer Complex, on Friday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m.
The first round matchup will be available to watch on ESPN+. The winner of Friday's matchup will face the winner of No. 5 seed Iowa and Bucknell in the second round on Nov. 17.
"It was a little bit mixed to see our name on the board during the NCAA Selection Show, but it is always incredible when it comes up. We feel very blessed, but I think we also thought we might get a little bit of regional draw, especially with our RPI, that we would have somebody with a bit closer proximity." Liberty Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer said after the selection show. "But that's where it was set up and we're excited about the opportunity to take on the SEC champs!"
Liberty (16-2-1) received an automatic bid for the NCAA Championship after an exciting run at the Conference USA Women's Soccer Championships, last week.
Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, the Lady Flames topped No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech, 4-1, last Friday. Two days later, Liberty edged No. 1 seed New Mexico State on Sunday thanks to a go-ahead goal during the 85th minute by Saydie Holland header off a corner set piece.
Georgia (11-4-5), is coming off an SEC Championship run, winning three matches en route to the title. The Bulldogs defeated No. 10 Arkansas, 1-0 on Sunday in the championship game, its first SEC title in program history.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 each, with all tickets being general admission. The Turner Soccer Complex will open one hour prior to the start of the match. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the UGA Ticket Office. All tickets must be purchased prior to the match, with no on-site sales available.
This is Liberty's first trip to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship since the Spring 2021 season. The Lady Flames, winners of the ASUN Championship in 2021, were matched up with Washington in the first round, falling 3-0 on April 27.
Liberty received eight selections to CUSA All-Conference teams including five first-team honorees, headlined by Midfielder of the Year Rachel DeRuby and Goalkeeper of the Year Ainsley Leja. The two standouts added to their postseason honors on Sunday, receiving the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship Offensive and Defensive MVP.
The Lady Flames secured their eighth conference title in program history on Sunday and their first as a member of Conference USA. Liberty 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).
The Liberty women's soccer team is the first program on campus to secure a Conference USA title.
The Lady Flames and Bulldogs, the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Championship, will meet in Athens, Ga., at the Turner Soccer Complex, on Friday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m.
The first round matchup will be available to watch on ESPN+. The winner of Friday's matchup will face the winner of No. 5 seed Iowa and Bucknell in the second round on Nov. 17.
"It was a little bit mixed to see our name on the board during the NCAA Selection Show, but it is always incredible when it comes up. We feel very blessed, but I think we also thought we might get a little bit of regional draw, especially with our RPI, that we would have somebody with a bit closer proximity." Liberty Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer said after the selection show. "But that's where it was set up and we're excited about the opportunity to take on the SEC champs!"
Liberty (16-2-1) received an automatic bid for the NCAA Championship after an exciting run at the Conference USA Women's Soccer Championships, last week.
Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, the Lady Flames topped No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech, 4-1, last Friday. Two days later, Liberty edged No. 1 seed New Mexico State on Sunday thanks to a go-ahead goal during the 85th minute by Saydie Holland header off a corner set piece.
Georgia (11-4-5), is coming off an SEC Championship run, winning three matches en route to the title. The Bulldogs defeated No. 10 Arkansas, 1-0 on Sunday in the championship game, its first SEC title in program history.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 each, with all tickets being general admission. The Turner Soccer Complex will open one hour prior to the start of the match. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the UGA Ticket Office. All tickets must be purchased prior to the match, with no on-site sales available.
This is Liberty's first trip to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship since the Spring 2021 season. The Lady Flames, winners of the ASUN Championship in 2021, were matched up with Washington in the first round, falling 3-0 on April 27.
Liberty received eight selections to CUSA All-Conference teams including five first-team honorees, headlined by Midfielder of the Year Rachel DeRuby and Goalkeeper of the Year Ainsley Leja. The two standouts added to their postseason honors on Sunday, receiving the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship Offensive and Defensive MVP.
The Lady Flames secured their eighth conference title in program history on Sunday and their first as a member of Conference USA. Liberty 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).
The Liberty women's soccer team is the first program on campus to secure a Conference USA title.
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