Friday, September 8
Lynchburg, Va.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(5-0)
2
vs
1
Harvard
(2-1)
1
2
3
4
5
F
Harvard
0
0
0
1
0
1
Liberty
1
0
0
0
1
2
Cian Wins It in OT, No. 9 Liberty Prevails 2-1 Over No. 14 Harvard
9/8/2023 3:33:00 PM | Field Hockey
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty junior Martu Cian scored the game-winning goal with 1:07 to play in the first overtime, lifting the No. 9-ranked Lady Flames to a 2-1 victory over the visiting No. 14-ranked Harvard Crimson on Friday afternoon at the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
The Lady Flames stay unbeaten on the season, improving to 5-0 overall, 4-0 at home and 3-0 in overtime and/or shootout games. Liberty has now won three games in overtime or a shootout in a season for the first time in program history.
Meanwhile, Harvard (2-1) suffers its first setback of the 2023 campaign. The all-time series between the Lady Flames and Crimson is now even at 1-1 following today's result. Liberty avenges a 2-1 overtime loss at Harvard back in 2019.
Scoring Summary
15' – LIBERTY – Milagros Arteta (Jodie Conolly) | Penalty Corner
59' – HARVARD – Sage Piekarski (Bronte-May Brough) | Penalty Corner
69' – LIBERTY – Martu Cian (Jodie Conolly) | Penalty Corner
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 5-0, three saves
L: Sofia Castore 1-1, seven saves
Turning Point
Liberty took a 1-0 lead late in the first quarter on Milagros Arteta's second goal of the season and held the lead until late in the fourth quarter. After Harvard pulled its goalkeeper, the Crimson capitalized on a penalty corner effort. Sage Piekarski found the back of the net on a pass from Bronte-May Brough, even the score at 1-all at the 58:05 mark. The Lady Flames earned a penalty corner with four seconds left in regulation but came up empty.
In the extra session, Liberty applied the pressure and drew a penalty corner. Fifth-year senior Jodie Conolly's offering found the stick of Cian in the middle of the circle, and Cian redirected the ball into the right side of the cage for the game-winning goal at the 68:53 mark.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will play its second road game of the season on Sunday, facing off against No. 13 Duke (2-1). Match time is 1 p.m. at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Liberty bested Duke 5-2 in the last meeting during the fall 2021 season. The last time the Lady Flames squared off against the Blue Devils in Durham resulted in a 3-2 double overtime victory during the spring 2021 campaign.
The Lady Flames stay unbeaten on the season, improving to 5-0 overall, 4-0 at home and 3-0 in overtime and/or shootout games. Liberty has now won three games in overtime or a shootout in a season for the first time in program history.
Meanwhile, Harvard (2-1) suffers its first setback of the 2023 campaign. The all-time series between the Lady Flames and Crimson is now even at 1-1 following today's result. Liberty avenges a 2-1 overtime loss at Harvard back in 2019.
Scoring Summary
15' – LIBERTY – Milagros Arteta (Jodie Conolly) | Penalty Corner
59' – HARVARD – Sage Piekarski (Bronte-May Brough) | Penalty Corner
69' – LIBERTY – Martu Cian (Jodie Conolly) | Penalty Corner
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 5-0, three saves
L: Sofia Castore 1-1, seven saves
Turning Point
Liberty took a 1-0 lead late in the first quarter on Milagros Arteta's second goal of the season and held the lead until late in the fourth quarter. After Harvard pulled its goalkeeper, the Crimson capitalized on a penalty corner effort. Sage Piekarski found the back of the net on a pass from Bronte-May Brough, even the score at 1-all at the 58:05 mark. The Lady Flames earned a penalty corner with four seconds left in regulation but came up empty.
In the extra session, Liberty applied the pressure and drew a penalty corner. Fifth-year senior Jodie Conolly's offering found the stick of Cian in the middle of the circle, and Cian redirected the ball into the right side of the cage for the game-winning goal at the 68:53 mark.
Key Stats & Notes
- Cian's goal was her first of the season, 16th for her career and second game-winning goal.
- Liberty outshot Harvard 17-9 in the game, including a 9-4 margin in shots on goal. The Lady Flames held a 9-7 edge in penalty corners.
- This is Liberty's second ranked win of the year and 15th over the past three seasons. The Lady Flames bested No. 6 Virginia 3-1, Aug. 29 on the road.
- Entering the year, Liberty held an 8-15 record in overtime or shootouts all-time. The Lady Flames are 3-0 in overtime and shootout situations this season.
- Conolly notched her sixth career two-assist game and the second in the last three games. The defender from Pietermartizuburg, South Africa leads the squad with four assists in 2023.
- Conolly's assists are the 25th and 26th of her Lady Flames career. She moves into a tie for seventh place in school history for career assists, matching Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame member Natalie Barr (26 assists, 2012-15) in the process.
- This is Liberty's fourth 5-0 start all-time and first since the spring 2021 campaign when the Lady Flames won seven straight games to open the year.
- Liberty has allowed one goal or less in all five games so far this season.
- The Lady Flames played two players down for a stretch of the third quarter following a yellow card and green card. During the five minutes with at least one player down, the Liberty defense did not surrender a shot attempt.
Liberty will play its second road game of the season on Sunday, facing off against No. 13 Duke (2-1). Match time is 1 p.m. at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Liberty bested Duke 5-2 in the last meeting during the fall 2021 season. The last time the Lady Flames squared off against the Blue Devils in Durham resulted in a 3-2 double overtime victory during the spring 2021 campaign.
MARTU CIAN WALKS IT OFF FOR THE FLAMES!#CatchingFire????? pic.twitter.com/sLNIGlPufn
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) September 8, 2023
Team Stats
HARV
LIBERTY
Goals
1
2
Shots
9
17
Shots on Goal
4
9
Saves
7
3
Corners
7
9
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
ARTETA, Milagros (2)
Assisted By: CONOLLY, Jodie
Redirect from right post on corner
14:54
Piekarski, Sage (1)
Assisted By: Brough, Bronte-May
Scored on corner from right post
58:05
CIAN, Martu (1)
Assisted By: CONOLLY, Jodie
Tip on corner into right side
68:53
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
D
/ Field Hockey
GK
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