Friday, November 8
Providence, R.I.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(10-8)
1
vs
2
Connecticut
(16-3)
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
1
0
0
0
1
UConn
0
0
2
0
2
No. 1 Seed Connecticut Edges No. 4 Seed Liberty 2-1 in BIG EAST Semifinals
11/8/2024 5:05:00 PM | Field Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – No. 1 seed Connecticut scored a pair of third quarter goals to come back and edge No. 4 seed Liberty 2-1, Friday afternoon in the 2024 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship semifinals at Providence's Lennon Family Field.
The top-seeded, the No. 10 team in the nation. Huskies improve to 16-3 overall and will advance to Sunday's championship game. UConn will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal between No. 2 seed Temple (11-7) and No. 3 seed Old Dominion (11-6). No. 18 Liberty falls to 10-8 with the setback.
The Lady Flames' Dara Semmartin, an All-BIG EAST second team selection, scored her second goal of the season.
Scoring Summary
13' – LIBERTY – Dara Semmartin (Lou Combrinck and Reagan Underwood) | Penalty Corner
38' – UCONN – Juana Garcia (Juul Sauer)
44' – UCONN – Juana Garica (Isabel Soeters)
Goalkeepers
W: Natalie Mckenna 16-3, three saves
L: Michaela Skinner 10-8, three saves
Turning Point
Liberty led 1-0 at the half thanks to a Dara Semmartin goal late in the first quarter. Semmartin's drag flick following an insert from Lou Combrinck and stick stop by Reagan Underwood found the top right corner of the cage at the 12:58 mark.
The Lady Flames' defense held up in the first half despite three UConn second quarter penalty corners and four shots in that frame. Midway through the third quarter (37:15 mark), the Huskies finally broke through to knot the game at 1-all. From the right side of the circle, Juul Sauer sent a pass over to Juana Garcia, who knocked the ball past Lady Flames goalkeeper Michaela Skinner for the equalizer. In the 44th minute, it was Garcia who delivered what proved to be the game winner. Garcia's teammate, Isabel Soeters had a quick restart and entered the circle, sending the ball towards the cage. Soeters' offering deflected off a Liberty defender's stick onto the waiting Garcia, who swept the ball into the left side of the goal cage for a 2-1 UConn lead.
Liberty had four penalty corner chances in the fourth quarter and attempted two shots, but the UConn defensive unit held up to preserve the victory. The Lady Flames played the final 5:17 with an empty net in an effort to even the game at 2-all.
Key Stats & Notes
The top-seeded, the No. 10 team in the nation. Huskies improve to 16-3 overall and will advance to Sunday's championship game. UConn will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal between No. 2 seed Temple (11-7) and No. 3 seed Old Dominion (11-6). No. 18 Liberty falls to 10-8 with the setback.
The Lady Flames' Dara Semmartin, an All-BIG EAST second team selection, scored her second goal of the season.
Scoring Summary
13' – LIBERTY – Dara Semmartin (Lou Combrinck and Reagan Underwood) | Penalty Corner
38' – UCONN – Juana Garcia (Juul Sauer)
44' – UCONN – Juana Garica (Isabel Soeters)
Goalkeepers
W: Natalie Mckenna 16-3, three saves
L: Michaela Skinner 10-8, three saves
Turning Point
Liberty led 1-0 at the half thanks to a Dara Semmartin goal late in the first quarter. Semmartin's drag flick following an insert from Lou Combrinck and stick stop by Reagan Underwood found the top right corner of the cage at the 12:58 mark.
The Lady Flames' defense held up in the first half despite three UConn second quarter penalty corners and four shots in that frame. Midway through the third quarter (37:15 mark), the Huskies finally broke through to knot the game at 1-all. From the right side of the circle, Juul Sauer sent a pass over to Juana Garcia, who knocked the ball past Lady Flames goalkeeper Michaela Skinner for the equalizer. In the 44th minute, it was Garcia who delivered what proved to be the game winner. Garcia's teammate, Isabel Soeters had a quick restart and entered the circle, sending the ball towards the cage. Soeters' offering deflected off a Liberty defender's stick onto the waiting Garcia, who swept the ball into the left side of the goal cage for a 2-1 UConn lead.
Liberty had four penalty corner chances in the fourth quarter and attempted two shots, but the UConn defensive unit held up to preserve the victory. The Lady Flames played the final 5:17 with an empty net in an effort to even the game at 2-all.
Key Stats & Notes
- UConn held a narrow 10-8 edge in total shots and 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Liberty won the penalty corner battle 8-7, and both teams made three saves.
- Dara Semmartin's goal was her second of the season. The Liberty freshman with a team-high 11 assists, the most for a Lady Flames rookie.
- Reagan Underwood notched an assist in what was her final game as a Lady Flame. The All-BIG EAST first team member finished the year with one goal, five assists and seven points. She is the program's all-time leader career starts record holder with 97.
- Lou Combrinck finished a strong junior campaign with an assist today. The All-BIG EAST second team selection ended the year with eight goals, six assists and a team-high 22 points.
- This is the first year Liberty will not be in the BIG EAST title game since the spring 2021 season. The Lady Flames won BIG EAST crowns during the fall 2021 and 2022 season and played for the championship last season.
- Today's game was the 16th all-time meeting between the squads. UConn bolsters its overall record versus Liberty to 10-6. The Lady Flames drop to 2-4 against the Huskies all-time at the BIG EAST Championship. Liberty had topped UConn in each of the last two meetings in the BIG EAST Tournament (fall 2021 title game and 2022 semifinal round).
- Liberty ends the 2024 season with a 1-6 mark against top-20 teams.
Team Stats
LIBERTY
UCN
Goals
1
2
Shots
8
10
Shots on Goal
4
5
Saves
3
3
Corners
8
7
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
SEMMARTIN, Dara (2)
Assisted By: COMBRINCK, Lou , UNDERWOOD, Reagan
Direct shot; drag
12:58
Sophia Ugo (5)
Assisted By: Juul Sauer
Deflected off GK at left post
37:15
Sophie Perschk (13)
Assisted By: Isabel Soeters
One-timed pass from right
43:01
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Field HockeyD
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
M
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