Wednesday, March 6
Lynchburg, Va.
3:00 PM ET
Liberty University
2-4
20
vs
17
Pittsburgh
2-5
1
2
3
4
F
Pitt
2
6
4
5
17
Liberty
6
7
5
2
20
Lady Flames Pounce on Pitt 20-17 for a Home Victory
3/6/2024 9:19:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's lacrosse team used a hot 6-0 start and a balanced attack to carry the Lady Flames to a 20-17 victory over Pitt. The game was held at the Liberty Lacrosse Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Liberty (2-4) kicked off the game against Pitt (2-5) with six consecutive goals in the first 10 minutes of the contest. The Lady Flames used another big scoring run with five consecutive goals to build their largest lead of the game at 12-4. Pitt charged back in the fourth quarter, using a 5-1 goal stretch but ran out of time falling shy of a dramatic comeback.
Six Lady Flames recorded at least three points in Wednesday's meeting led by Cami Merkel and Jordan Sheive with four goals and two assists each. Liberty enjoyed its best performance from free-position attempts, converting on 7-10 attempts.
Liberty used a combination of three goalkeepers for the first time this season. Taylor Gallarello (1-1) made the start for Liberty while freshman Rachel Hines (0-1) was tasked with closing out the game, entering at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Lady Flames' 20 scores are the most in a single game this season.
Liberty Goals: Jordan Sheive 4, Cami Merkel 2, Kelly Scott 3, Ava Rajala 3, Mackenzie Lehman 2, Olivia Glaze 2, Taiva Reinertson 1, Katie Colavito 1
Liberty Assists: Olivia Glaze 3, Mackenzie Lehman 3, Cami Merkel 2, Jordan Sheive 2, Delaney Donahue 1, Kelly Scott 1
Pitt Goals: Emily Coughlin 4, Sydney Naylor 3, Jenna Hendrickson 3, Madigan Lublin 1, Kaitlyn Giandonato 1, Maureen McNierney 1, Ava Washington 1, Camdyn O'Donnell 1, Avery Moon 1, Rachel Familetti 1
Pitt Assists: Madigan Lublin 3, Kaitlyn Giandonato 1, Jenna Hendrickson 1, Maureen McNierney 1, Sydney Naylor 1, Camdyn O'Donnell 1, Ava Washington 1
Turning Point:
Entering the game, Liberty was seeking a fast start and was able to execute its game plan. The Lady Flames scored six unanswered goals in the first 10 minutes including two scores from Cami Merkel and Kelly Scott.
Pitt answered with three consecutive scores to tighten the deficit to 6-3. Spurned by two goals from Mackenzie Lehman and Ava Rajala, Liberty strung together a stretch of five consecutive goals to give the Lady Flames a comfortable eight-goal separation.
First Half Summary
Second Half Summary
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty (2-4) heads out West for a spring break trip. The Lady Flames visit San Diego State (1-5) Monday at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT and face Arizona State (3-3) at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT.
Liberty (2-4) kicked off the game against Pitt (2-5) with six consecutive goals in the first 10 minutes of the contest. The Lady Flames used another big scoring run with five consecutive goals to build their largest lead of the game at 12-4. Pitt charged back in the fourth quarter, using a 5-1 goal stretch but ran out of time falling shy of a dramatic comeback.
Six Lady Flames recorded at least three points in Wednesday's meeting led by Cami Merkel and Jordan Sheive with four goals and two assists each. Liberty enjoyed its best performance from free-position attempts, converting on 7-10 attempts.
Liberty used a combination of three goalkeepers for the first time this season. Taylor Gallarello (1-1) made the start for Liberty while freshman Rachel Hines (0-1) was tasked with closing out the game, entering at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Lady Flames' 20 scores are the most in a single game this season.
Liberty Goals: Jordan Sheive 4, Cami Merkel 2, Kelly Scott 3, Ava Rajala 3, Mackenzie Lehman 2, Olivia Glaze 2, Taiva Reinertson 1, Katie Colavito 1
Liberty Assists: Olivia Glaze 3, Mackenzie Lehman 3, Cami Merkel 2, Jordan Sheive 2, Delaney Donahue 1, Kelly Scott 1
Pitt Goals: Emily Coughlin 4, Sydney Naylor 3, Jenna Hendrickson 3, Madigan Lublin 1, Kaitlyn Giandonato 1, Maureen McNierney 1, Ava Washington 1, Camdyn O'Donnell 1, Avery Moon 1, Rachel Familetti 1
Pitt Assists: Madigan Lublin 3, Kaitlyn Giandonato 1, Jenna Hendrickson 1, Maureen McNierney 1, Sydney Naylor 1, Camdyn O'Donnell 1, Ava Washington 1
Turning Point:
Entering the game, Liberty was seeking a fast start and was able to execute its game plan. The Lady Flames scored six unanswered goals in the first 10 minutes including two scores from Cami Merkel and Kelly Scott.
Pitt answered with three consecutive scores to tighten the deficit to 6-3. Spurned by two goals from Mackenzie Lehman and Ava Rajala, Liberty strung together a stretch of five consecutive goals to give the Lady Flames a comfortable eight-goal separation.
First Half Summary
- The Panthers managed four consecutive goals late in the second quarter but were answered with a Kelly Scott tally with just 35 seconds remaining.
- The Lady Flames held a 13-8 advantage entering the second half.
- Liberty was efficient from the field and free-position attempts in the opening half. The Lady Flames scored 11 goals on 19 shots and converted 4-of-5 free-position attempts.
- Pitt held the advantage leading draw control wins 10-4 in the second quarter, leading the first half 13-10.
- Liberty led Pitt 19-14 in first-half shots.
Second Half Summary
- The two teams traded blows in the third quarter with neither team scoring more than two consecutive goals.
- Pitt began a fourth quarter comeback bid with 10 minutes remaining down 19-12 with three straight goals. Olivia Glaze answered a free-position goal with just over four minutes remaining. The Panthers scored back-to-back goals to end the game, falling three scores short of a tie.
- Liberty held Pitt to just three free-position attempts in the second half, all in the fourth quarter.
- Pitt outscored Liberty 9-7, outshooting the Lady Flames 14-13 in the second half.
Key Stats & Notes
- Six Lady Flames recorded at least three points with four recording at least five points.
- Goalkeeper Taylor Gallarello (1-1) won her first game of the season. The junior led Liberty with 11 wins in 2023.
- Liberty currently ranks No. 1 in the country with 16.6 caused turnovers per game. Liberty forced 14 caused turnovers to Pitt's eight as two Lady Flames, Glaze and Lehman, recorded three caused turnovers on Wednesday.
- With two goals, Lehman leads Liberty with 15 goals and 20 points. Glaze (three assists) leads the team with eight assists, tying her total from 2013.
- Pitt outdrew Liberty 21-17 in Wednesday's contest.
Up Next
Liberty (2-4) heads out West for a spring break trip. The Lady Flames visit San Diego State (1-5) Monday at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT and face Arizona State (3-3) at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT.
Team Stats
UP
LIBERTY
Shots
29
33
Turnovers
25
19
Caused Turnovers
8
17
Draw Controls
23
17
Free-Position Shots
7
10
Ground Balls
18
24
Game Leaders
G
4
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
1
G
4
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
2
G
3
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
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