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Friday, November 8
Miami, Fla.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
15-1-4, 6-1-2
1
vs
0
New Mexico State
11-6-3, 5-2-2
1
2
F
New Mexico St.
0
0
0
Liberty
0
1
1
Garner Leads Liberty to 1-0 Victory Over New Mexico State, Advances to CUSA Final
11/8/2024 8:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MIAMI, Fla. – Ivy Garner lifted the No. 2 seed Lady Flames with a second-half tally to push past No. 3 New Mexico State 1-0 on Friday to advance to the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship title game. Liberty (15-1-4, 6-1-2 CUSA) unleashed a persistent, suffocating defense, holding the Aggies 11-6-3 (5-2-2 CUSA) to a single shot across 90 minutes.
Liberty was unavailable to find the back of the net in the first half despite adding consistent pressure and winning five corner opportunities. Midfielder Bri Myers found the best chance after being in prime position for a rebound. Her strike froze the Aggies' goalkeeper, Valerie Guha, but she watched it glance off the crossbar for a goal kick.
Ivy Garner grabbed the critical score in the 61' minute of the contest. The forward gained position at the top of the penalty box and received a low cross from Halle Engle. Garner did not second guess herself, immediately depositing the pass into the back of the net.
Despite a hard charge from the Aggies in the remaining 30 minutes of the game, Liberty's defense held firm. Across the entire 90 minutes, the Lady Flames did not concede a single corner or shot on goal.
No. 2 seed Liberty prepares to take on the winner of No. 5 seed Middle Tennessee and No. 1 seed FIU on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. That game is currently in action on ESPN+.
Thoughts from Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer
"Once you get to tournament play, it's survive and move on and that's a little bit of what we did tonight. Credit to the girls, they found a way to win and stick around for a few more days."
On what the team needs to do well on Sunday
"We are creating good chances, but we have to find a way to finish more and give ourselves more cushion. We had a lot of shots tonight, we just need to finish a little better."
Thoughts from Forward Ivy Garner
"I can't take credit for any of it because Halle (Engle) and Gabby (Miranda) did such a great job moving the ball up the field. Halle played a great ball and I sloppily found a way to get it in the back of the net. I am just so proud of the team for such a gritty game. We didn't have a great start, but we found a way to get a result."
On what makes the team play so well together this year
"I think it's because we are playing for a higher purpose, that allows us to play united and close, it's just so important to us. All Glory to God."
Scoring Summary
61' – Liberty – Ivy Garner (Halle Engle, Gabby Miranda)
Lady Flames News & Notes
Liberty prepares to take on the winner of No. 5 seed MTSU and No. 1 seed FIU in the CUSA Championship title game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. All CUSA Championship games are broadcast on ESPN+.
Liberty was unavailable to find the back of the net in the first half despite adding consistent pressure and winning five corner opportunities. Midfielder Bri Myers found the best chance after being in prime position for a rebound. Her strike froze the Aggies' goalkeeper, Valerie Guha, but she watched it glance off the crossbar for a goal kick.
Ivy Garner grabbed the critical score in the 61' minute of the contest. The forward gained position at the top of the penalty box and received a low cross from Halle Engle. Garner did not second guess herself, immediately depositing the pass into the back of the net.
Despite a hard charge from the Aggies in the remaining 30 minutes of the game, Liberty's defense held firm. Across the entire 90 minutes, the Lady Flames did not concede a single corner or shot on goal.
No. 2 seed Liberty prepares to take on the winner of No. 5 seed Middle Tennessee and No. 1 seed FIU on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. That game is currently in action on ESPN+.
Garner gets it going ?? Ivy sinks the first score of the game.
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) November 8, 2024
NMSU 0 | Liberty 1 pic.twitter.com/zfXlujxElH
Thoughts from Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer
"Once you get to tournament play, it's survive and move on and that's a little bit of what we did tonight. Credit to the girls, they found a way to win and stick around for a few more days."
On what the team needs to do well on Sunday
"We are creating good chances, but we have to find a way to finish more and give ourselves more cushion. We had a lot of shots tonight, we just need to finish a little better."
Thoughts from Forward Ivy Garner
"I can't take credit for any of it because Halle (Engle) and Gabby (Miranda) did such a great job moving the ball up the field. Halle played a great ball and I sloppily found a way to get it in the back of the net. I am just so proud of the team for such a gritty game. We didn't have a great start, but we found a way to get a result."
On what makes the team play so well together this year
"I think it's because we are playing for a higher purpose, that allows us to play united and close, it's just so important to us. All Glory to God."
Scoring Summary
61' – Liberty – Ivy Garner (Halle Engle, Gabby Miranda)
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty tops New Mexico State in the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship for the second consecutive season. The Lady Flames beat the Aggies 2-1 in the CUSA Championship game last season. Liberty improves 2-1-1 all-time and 1-0-1 this season against New Mexico State.
- With the 1-0 shutout on Friday, Liberty has earned its eleventh clean sheet of the season. 11 shutouts is the most in a single-season since the Lady Flames recorded 12 in 2022.
- The Lady Flames improve their unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games (6-0-2) and are winners of three straight.
- Ivy Garner has scored at least one point in eight of the past 10 contests.
- The forward now has five game-winning goals this season. She is currently one of 26 players (including Halle Engle, 7) with at least five game-winning goals.
- Liberty has held its opponents to five shots or less seven times this season.
- Goalkeeper Grace Workman earned her third 90-minute shutout of the season and has been involved in nine total shutouts this season. The redshirt junior leads CUSA with a 0.38 goals-against average and an .862 save percentage.
Liberty prepares to take on the winner of No. 5 seed MTSU and No. 1 seed FIU in the CUSA Championship title game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. All CUSA Championship games are broadcast on ESPN+.
Team Stats
NMS
LIB
Goals
0
1
Shots
1
13
Shots on Goal
0
5
Saves
4
0
Corners
0
8
Fouls
6
7
Scoring Plays
Ivy Garner (9)
GOAL by LIB Garner, Ivy.
60:31
Game Leaders
Players
fwd
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerGameday with Liberty Women's Soccer
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