Friday, October 25
Storrs, Conn.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(9-6, 3-3BIG EAST)
1
at
2
Connecticut
(14-2, 4-1BIG EAST)
1
2
3
4
5
F
Liberty
0
1
0
0
0
1
UConn
0
1
0
0
1
2
#12 Martu Cian
No. 8 UConn Slips Past No. 18 Liberty 2-1 in OT
10/25/2024 4:04:00 PM | Field Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – Connecticut's Juul Sauer scored less than a minute into overtime, propelling the No. 8 Huskies to a 2-1 victory over No. 18 Liberty in BIG EAST action, Friday afternoon at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.
UConn bolsters its overall record to 14-2 and BIG EAST mark to 5-1. The Huskies remain unbeaten at home, improving to 9-0 on their home turf. Meanwhile, Liberty slips to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in the BIG EAST. The Lady Flames fall to 1-5 against top-20 teams in 2024. This was Liberty's second straight overtime game and first overtime loss this season (2-1). The Lady Flames fall to 3-3 in road contests.
Lady Flames redshirt sophomore Tori Griffiths scored her first career goal today.
Today's loss snaps Liberty's six-game winning streak against UConn, dating back to the spring 2021 campaign. The setback also ends the Lady Flames' four-game winning streak.
Scoring Summary
22' – LIBERTY – Tori Griffiths (Lou Combrinck)
27' – UCONN – Sol Simone (Sophie Perschk) | Penalty Corner
61' – UCONN – Juul Sauer (Sol Simone)
Goalkeepers
W: Natalie McKenna 14-2, six saves
L: Michaela Skinner 9-6, four saves
Turning Point
Connecticut scored the game winner early in overtime at the 60:44 mark. Midfielder Sol Simone drove into the right side of the circle and sent a centering pass onto the stick of Juul Sauer, who swept the ball into the cage to secure the victory. Sauer's goal was her eighth of the year.
Key Stats & Notes
The Lady Flames will play a road non-conference game at James Madison (10-4) on Tuesday. Match time is 2 p.m. from the JMU Field Hockey Complex in Harrisonburg, Va. The contest can also be seen on ESPN+.
Liberty is 4-3 all-time versus JMU, with the two squads meeting each of the last two years. In 2023, the Lady Flames earned a 3-2 home victory over the Dukes on Senior Day. Jodie Conolly scored two times, including the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute.
UConn bolsters its overall record to 14-2 and BIG EAST mark to 5-1. The Huskies remain unbeaten at home, improving to 9-0 on their home turf. Meanwhile, Liberty slips to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in the BIG EAST. The Lady Flames fall to 1-5 against top-20 teams in 2024. This was Liberty's second straight overtime game and first overtime loss this season (2-1). The Lady Flames fall to 3-3 in road contests.
Lady Flames redshirt sophomore Tori Griffiths scored her first career goal today.
Today's loss snaps Liberty's six-game winning streak against UConn, dating back to the spring 2021 campaign. The setback also ends the Lady Flames' four-game winning streak.
Scoring Summary
22' – LIBERTY – Tori Griffiths (Lou Combrinck)
27' – UCONN – Sol Simone (Sophie Perschk) | Penalty Corner
61' – UCONN – Juul Sauer (Sol Simone)
Goalkeepers
W: Natalie McKenna 14-2, six saves
L: Michaela Skinner 9-6, four saves
Turning Point
Connecticut scored the game winner early in overtime at the 60:44 mark. Midfielder Sol Simone drove into the right side of the circle and sent a centering pass onto the stick of Juul Sauer, who swept the ball into the cage to secure the victory. Sauer's goal was her eighth of the year.
Key Stats & Notes
- Tori Griffiths scored Liberty's only goal, her first career goal.
- Lou Combrinck assisted on Griffiths' goal, giving her four assists and a team-best 18 points (7 g, 4 a) on the year.
- Liberty outshot UConn 12-10 and held a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. Lady Flames senior forward Ellie Livingston led the way with a game-high three shots on goal. The Huskies held a 5-3 advantage in penalty corners.
- Both teams scored a goal in the first half.
- The Lady Flames came out strong in the third quarter with five shots, three on goal, in the first
- This is the first time Liberty has lost three BIG EAST regular season games in a single season. The Lady Flames' lost two BIG EAST matches in 2016 (5-2), 2017 (5-2), 2019 (5-2) and spring 2021 (10-2).
- Today's matchup was the 15th-ever meeting between the two squads. UConn holds the series edge 9-6.
- Liberty is 5-3 in one-goal games this season.
The Lady Flames will play a road non-conference game at James Madison (10-4) on Tuesday. Match time is 2 p.m. from the JMU Field Hockey Complex in Harrisonburg, Va. The contest can also be seen on ESPN+.
Liberty is 4-3 all-time versus JMU, with the two squads meeting each of the last two years. In 2023, the Lady Flames earned a 3-2 home victory over the Dukes on Senior Day. Jodie Conolly scored two times, including the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute.
Team Stats
LIBERTY
UCN
Goals
1
2
Shots
12
10
Shots on Goal
7
6
Saves
4
6
Corners
3
5
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
11
13
Scoring Plays
GRIFFITHS, Tori (1)
Assisted By: COMBRINCK, Lou
Redirect from right post on 21's reverse
21:58
Sol Simone (6)
Assisted By: Sophie Perschk
Scored on corner, touch on bouncing ball
26:11
Juul Sauer (8)
Assisted By: Sol Simone
Feed from right side, swept in by 4
60:44
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Field Hockey
D
/ Field Hockey
M/F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
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