Earnest and Leja Receive Conference USA Player of the Week Honors
8/28/2023 5:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty women's soccer defender Rebekah Earnest and Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja were named the Conference USA Players of the Week at their positions. The conference made the announcement this afternoon.
Leja receives her second straight CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week mention after earning the honor in the first week after a 2-0 start to the season with victories over VCU and Delaware. The Lady Flames lead the conference, receiving a conference Player of the Week award three times.
Earnest receives her first career Defensive Player of the Week leading the Flames defense to dominant defensive performances. The defender has played in every minute of the season in 2023 and has started in 26 consecutive games dating back to 2021.
Earnest and Leja each contributed to a 2-0 week with dual shutout wins, beating Tennessee Tech 2-0 Friday at home and defeating UNCW 3-0 on the road Sunday.
The Lady Flames defense has not allowed a goal in the last 349 minutes of play, including logging three straight clean sheets. The defense allowed just six total shots and two combined corner kicks to their opponents.
Leja recorded her first career assist on the opening goal at UNCW on Sunday. Leja launched a goal kick toward Bridie Herman at midfield who headed the ball ahead to a running Ivy Garner who dribbled the ball through the penalty box for the score.
The keeper has played in every minute of 2023, allowing a single goal across all four games. The Rockford, Mich. native sports a 0.25 GAA and a 0.900 save percentage on ten shots faced this season.
Liberty has started 4-0 to open 2023, a program-best. The Lady Flames will put their 17-game unbeaten streak (14-0-3) on the line Thursday at Longwood before hosting reigning Big 12 champion West Virginia on Sunday at Osborne Stadium. Kickoffs are set for 6 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Leja receives her second straight CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week mention after earning the honor in the first week after a 2-0 start to the season with victories over VCU and Delaware. The Lady Flames lead the conference, receiving a conference Player of the Week award three times.
Earnest receives her first career Defensive Player of the Week leading the Flames defense to dominant defensive performances. The defender has played in every minute of the season in 2023 and has started in 26 consecutive games dating back to 2021.
Earnest and Leja each contributed to a 2-0 week with dual shutout wins, beating Tennessee Tech 2-0 Friday at home and defeating UNCW 3-0 on the road Sunday.
The Lady Flames defense has not allowed a goal in the last 349 minutes of play, including logging three straight clean sheets. The defense allowed just six total shots and two combined corner kicks to their opponents.
Leja recorded her first career assist on the opening goal at UNCW on Sunday. Leja launched a goal kick toward Bridie Herman at midfield who headed the ball ahead to a running Ivy Garner who dribbled the ball through the penalty box for the score.
Teamwork makes the dream work. ??
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) August 27, 2023
Ivy Garner deposits a goal off a goal kick to open the scoring!
Liberty 1, UNCW 0 pic.twitter.com/qkvu2iSZOs
The keeper has played in every minute of 2023, allowing a single goal across all four games. The Rockford, Mich. native sports a 0.25 GAA and a 0.900 save percentage on ten shots faced this season.
Liberty has started 4-0 to open 2023, a program-best. The Lady Flames will put their 17-game unbeaten streak (14-0-3) on the line Thursday at Longwood before hosting reigning Big 12 champion West Virginia on Sunday at Osborne Stadium. Kickoffs are set for 6 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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