5 Flames Named to OVC All-Conference Team

LYNCHBURG, VA. – Five Liberty Flames have been named to the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference team. Selected by the league's head coaches and athletics communications directors, the OVC awards and all-conference teams were announced by the conference office earlier this afternoon.

Defenders Casey McCarthy and Perry Blay, midfielder Aidan Morrison and forwards Leo Conneh and Zach Lifferth were selected to the OVC All-Conference second team. Goalkeeper Tyler Beck was named to the 2025 OVC All-Newcomer Team.

Liberty posted a 4-2-4 record in OVC play for 16 points to finish in third place in the conference's regular season standings. The Flames, 8-4-6 overall, garnered the No. 3 seed for the OVC Men's Soccer Championship and will face No. 6 seed Eastern Illinois (4-8-4, 3-4-3 OVC, 12 points) in the OVC Quarterfinals on Sunday at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. Match time is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST.

Casey McCarthy (OVC All-Conference Second Team)
In his first season with the Flames, McCarthy anchored the Liberty backline, starting all 18 games. The senior defender and team captain played the most minutes of any Liberty field player, logging 1,600 minutes and playing the full 90 minutes 16 times. McCarthy has recorded three assists.

Perry Blay (OVC All-Conference Second Team)
Blay, who earns his first all-conference selection, has played in all 18 games with 16 starts at defender for the Flames this season. The junior leads Liberty and is second in the OVC with seven assists, a career high for the defender. The junior has played over 1,520 minutes and has played the full 90 minutes 12 times.

Aidan Morrison (OVC All-Conference Second Team)
After being named to the 2024 OVC All-Newcomer team as a freshman, Morrison garners his first all-conference team selection. The sophomore midfielder has started and played 16 games this season. He has scored a career-high three goals and has two assists for a career-high eight points.

Leo Conneh (OVC All-Conference Second Team)
Conneh collects his first all-conference selection. The junior has scored a career-high six goals and has two assists for a career-high 14 points. The forward has started all 18 games for the Flames this season. Conneh is tied for fifth in goals and tied for ninth in points in the OVC.

Zach Lifferth (OVC All-Conference Second Team)
In his first season as a Flame, Lifferth leads the Flames with eight goals and 18 points. The senior has played in all 18 Liberty games, with 14 starts. He finished the regular season tied for the OVC lead in goals and tied for third in points. Lifferth was named the OVC Player of the Week on Sept. 30 after scoring three goals and recording an assist in a 6-1 win over Southern Indiana on Sept. 27. His seven points set a new OVC record for points in a conference game.

Tyler Beck (OVC All-Newcomer Team)
Beck, a redshirt freshman, has played every minute in goal for the Flames this season. He enters the weekend second in the nation in goalkeeper minutes, having logged 1,620 minutes in his first season. Beck has posted a 1.28 goals-against average with a .705 save percentage. He has recorded five shutouts.

Schedule

5 Flames Named to OVC All-Conference Team

Players Mentioned

Tyler Beck

Perry Blay

Leo Conneh

Zach Lifferth

Casey McCarthy

Aidan Morrison