Sunday, October 20
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(9-5)
2
vs
1
Longwood
(4-9)
1
2
3
4
5
F
Longwood
0
0
0
1
0
1
Liberty
0
1
0
0
1
2
Cian Scores Game Winner in OT, No. 19 Liberty Bests Longwood 2-1 on Senior Day
10/20/2024 4:25:00 PM | Field Hockey
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty's Martu Cian scored the game-winning goal in overtime on her Senior Day, lifting the No. 19 Lady Flames to a 2-1 victory over visiting Longwood at the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
With the non-conference victory, Liberty closes out a 2-0 weekend at home and has won four straight matches overall to improve to 9-5 on the season. Meanwhile, Longwood slips to 4-9 on the year after losing back-to-back overtime games this week. On Friday, the Lancers fell 4-3 in double overtime at home to Miami (Ohio) in league play.
Prior to the contest, Liberty honored its seven-player senior class with a special ceremony: Reagan Underwood, Martu Cian, Ellie Livingston, Tuti Dell Anna, Daniella Hamm, Ella Murphy and Corey Dykema (practice player).
Scoring Summary
30' – LIBERTY – Tuti Dell Anna (Dara Semmartin) | Penalty Corner
57' – LONGWOOD – Zoe Tierney | Penalty Stroke
63' – LIBERTY – Martu Cian (Lou Combrinck)
Goalkeepers
W: Michaela Skinner 9-5, zero saves
L: Sophie Mooldijk 3-8, 16 saves
Turning Point
In the overtime session, Liberty put two shots on cage in the first 90 seconds and broke through on its third shot attempt of the frame. Junior Lou Combrinck drove into the circle on the right side and drew a foul on a Longwood defender. Playing to the advantage, Combrinck dribbled and sent a crossing pass to Martu Cian, who sent a one-timed shot into the back of the goal for the game winner at the 62:18 mark. Cian's goal was her sixth of the season and second game winner of the year.
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty (9-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) will take its four-game winning streak into a road BIG EAST matchup with No. 5 Connecticut (13-2, 4-1 BIG EAST), Friday afternoon. Game time between the Lady Flames and Huskies is 1 p.m. at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn.
Liberty is 6-8 all-time against UConn. The Lady Flames have won each of the last six meetings, including a 3-0 home victory last season in Lynchburg.
With the non-conference victory, Liberty closes out a 2-0 weekend at home and has won four straight matches overall to improve to 9-5 on the season. Meanwhile, Longwood slips to 4-9 on the year after losing back-to-back overtime games this week. On Friday, the Lancers fell 4-3 in double overtime at home to Miami (Ohio) in league play.
Prior to the contest, Liberty honored its seven-player senior class with a special ceremony: Reagan Underwood, Martu Cian, Ellie Livingston, Tuti Dell Anna, Daniella Hamm, Ella Murphy and Corey Dykema (practice player).
Scoring Summary
30' – LIBERTY – Tuti Dell Anna (Dara Semmartin) | Penalty Corner
57' – LONGWOOD – Zoe Tierney | Penalty Stroke
63' – LIBERTY – Martu Cian (Lou Combrinck)
63' | The game-winning goal by senior @martician02 ! ??
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) October 20, 2024
No. 19 Liberty 2, Longwood 1 pic.twitter.com/5NZn6x2b0C
Goalkeepers
W: Michaela Skinner 9-5, zero saves
L: Sophie Mooldijk 3-8, 16 saves
Turning Point
In the overtime session, Liberty put two shots on cage in the first 90 seconds and broke through on its third shot attempt of the frame. Junior Lou Combrinck drove into the circle on the right side and drew a foul on a Longwood defender. Playing to the advantage, Combrinck dribbled and sent a crossing pass to Martu Cian, who sent a one-timed shot into the back of the goal for the game winner at the 62:18 mark. Cian's goal was her sixth of the season and second game winner of the year.
Key Stats & Notes
- Martu Cian's goal was the 27th of her career. She moves into a tie for 10th place in program history, joining former teammate Bethany Dykema (27 goals, 2019-23).
- This is the third time in the last two seasons that Cian has scored a game-winning goal in overtime. Last year, she scored the winner in double OT at No. 1 North Carolina and tallied the deciding goal in overtime of a 2-1 home triumph over No. 14 Harvard.
- Liberty's first goal of the match came with 43 seconds left in the second period. The Lady Flames' Tuti Dell Anna scored on a penalty corner, assisted by Dara Semmartin.
- Dell Anna leads Liberty with eight goals on the season. She recorded a career-high 10 shots today, three of which were on frame. Dell Anna's previous career high in shots was five, achieved on two occasions.
- Semmartin, a freshman, paces Liberty with eight assists in 14 games this year.
- The Lady Flames improve to 2-0 in overtime games in 2024. Liberty edged Indiana 2-1 in double overtime in the season opener, Aug. 31. The Lady Flames hold a 6-2 record over the last two seasons in games decided by overtime or a shootout.
- Liberty outshot Longwood 32-5 and held an 11-5 advantage in penalty corners. The Lady Flames put 18 shots on cage, compared to only one for the Lancers. Liberty's 32 shots are a new season high, surpassing the previous season high of 29 which came in a 9-0 win over Quinnipiac on Friday. Longwood goalkeeper Sophie Mooldijk made a career-high 16 saves.
- Liberty held a 16-1 edge in shots in the first half and had 13 more shots in the second half and three in only 2:18 of overtime play.
- This was the first time Liberty and Longwood ever needed overtime to decide the outcome in what was the 14th all-time meeting between the two schools. The Lady Flames improve to 10-4 in the all-time series and have won five straight games against the Lancers.
- Freshman forward Avery Pollock made her second straight start.
- Redshirt sophomore Tori Griffiths had a career-high three shots on goal.
- Four seniors started for the Lady Flames on Senior Day – Cian, Dell Anna, Reagan Underwood and Ellie Livingston.
- Liberty has won three straight home contests.
Up Next
Liberty (9-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) will take its four-game winning streak into a road BIG EAST matchup with No. 5 Connecticut (13-2, 4-1 BIG EAST), Friday afternoon. Game time between the Lady Flames and Huskies is 1 p.m. at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn.
Liberty is 6-8 all-time against UConn. The Lady Flames have won each of the last six meetings, including a 3-0 home victory last season in Lynchburg.
Team Stats
LWU
LIBERTY
Goals
1
2
Shots
5
32
Shots on Goal
1
18
Saves
16
0
Corners
5
11
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
DELL ANNA, Tuti (8)
Assisted By: SEMMARTIN, Dara
Redirect on corner from right side
29:17
TIERNEY, Zoe (5)
LWU TIERNEY, Zoe PENALTY STROKE GOAL, goal number 5 for season.
46:44
CIAN, Martu (6)
Assisted By: COMBRINCK, Lou
One timed from in front on pass from 21
62:18
Game Leaders
Shots
10
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
6
SOG
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Field Hockey
M/F
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field Hockey
D
/ Field Hockey
M/F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
D
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyD
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyLiberty Field Hockey Defeats ODU
Saturday, October 04
Coach Parsley-Blocker & Julieta Tornati Talk About The Win Over ODU
Saturday, October 04
Liberty Field Hockey Defeats UConn
Saturday, September 27
Coach Parsley-Blocker & Dara Semmartin Talk About The Win Over UConn
Saturday, September 27