Thursday, October 16
Charleston, Ill.
4:00 PM ET/3:00 PM CT
Liberty University
7-3-4, 3-1-2
2
at
2
Eastern Illinois
2-7-3, 1-3-2
1
2
F
Liberty
1
1
2
Eastern Ill.
1
1
2
Liberty Ties Eastern Illinois 2-2 in OVC Road Match
10/16/2025 7:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CHARLESTON, ILL. – The Liberty Flames played the Eastern Illinois Panthers to a 2-2 tie Thursday afternoon in an Ohio Valley Conference match at Lakeside Field.
Midfielder Spencer Moler scored his first goal of the season to knot the contest at 1-1 late in the first half, and forward Zach Lifferth, Liberty's leading scorer, netted his eighth goal of the year early in the second half to temporarily give the visiting Flames a 2-1 advantage.
Eastern Illinois carried play in the first half, outshooting Liberty, 8-2, only to see the Flames carry play in the second half and outshoot the Panthers, 13-5.
Liberty, which entered the match tied for first place in the OVC, is now 3-1-2 in conference and 7-3-4 overall. Eastern Illinois ups its OVC record to 1-3-2 on the season and 2-7-3 overall.
Scoring Summary
19' – EIU – Shion Hayashi (Penalty Kick)
41' – LIBERTY – Spencer Moler (Assist by Elijah John)
48' – LIBERTY – Zach Lifferth (Assist by Spencer Moler and Casey McCarthy)
53' – EIU – Casey Welage (Assisted by Yuki Nakamura)
Key Stats & Notes
Next Up
Liberty completes its OVC road swing through Illinois by visiting the Western Illinois Leathernecks for a conference match on Sunday. Match time is scheduled for Noon ET/11 a.m. CT.
Midfielder Spencer Moler scored his first goal of the season to knot the contest at 1-1 late in the first half, and forward Zach Lifferth, Liberty's leading scorer, netted his eighth goal of the year early in the second half to temporarily give the visiting Flames a 2-1 advantage.
Eastern Illinois carried play in the first half, outshooting Liberty, 8-2, only to see the Flames carry play in the second half and outshoot the Panthers, 13-5.
Liberty, which entered the match tied for first place in the OVC, is now 3-1-2 in conference and 7-3-4 overall. Eastern Illinois ups its OVC record to 1-3-2 on the season and 2-7-3 overall.
Scoring Summary
19' – EIU – Shion Hayashi (Penalty Kick)
41' – LIBERTY – Spencer Moler (Assist by Elijah John)
48' – LIBERTY – Zach Lifferth (Assist by Spencer Moler and Casey McCarthy)
53' – EIU – Casey Welage (Assisted by Yuki Nakamura)
Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty outshot Eastern Illinois, 15-13. The Flames, who entered the match sixth nationally in shots on goal (7.62/game), had eight shots on goal. The Panthers had nine shots on goal.
- Visiting Liberty held an 8-6 edge over EIU in corner kicks. The Flames' second goal of the contest came off a corner kick.
- Moler headed a free kick in for his first goal of the year. The sophomore also scored one goal last season.
- Lifferth leads the OVC with eight goals and 18 points on the season.
- Midfielder Elijah John assisted on Moler's goal by lofting his free kick into the box for the midfielder to head. It was John's fourth assist of the season.
- Defender Casey McCarthy and Moler each garnered assists on Lifferth's goal.
- Liberty goalkeeper Tyler Beck made a career-high seven saves in the contest. The total eclipses his previous high of six recorded in the Flames' 2-1 win over Longwood on Sept. 9, 2025. EIU goalkeeper Lucas Ortiz recorded six saves, including five in the second half.
- Today's match was the only meeting between the two teams during the regular season.
Next Up
Liberty completes its OVC road swing through Illinois by visiting the Western Illinois Leathernecks for a conference match on Sunday. Match time is scheduled for Noon ET/11 a.m. CT.
41' | Flames with the equalizer!
— Liberty Men's Soccer (@LibertyMSoccer) October 16, 2025
Spencer Moler with the header ! pic.twitter.com/J5Xc512LFB
Team Stats
LU_
EIU
Goals
2
2
Shots
15
13
Shots on Goal
8
9
Saves
7
6
Corners
8
6
Fouls
8
16
Scoring Plays
Shion Hayashi (1)
EIU Shion Hayashi PENALTY KICK GOAL.
18:15
Spencer Moler (1)
Assisted By: Elijah John
header off free kick from corner
40:50
Zach Lifferth (8)
Assisted By: Spencer Moler , Casey McCarthy
quick action in front, one time off loose ball from GK
47:35
Casey Welage (3)
Assisted By: Yuki Nakamura
fast break goal flipped over defender
52:32
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
GK
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