Saturday, February 15
Richmond, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
1-2
15
at
8
VCU
0-2
1
2
3
4
F
LIBERTY
4
4
3
4
15
VCU
1
3
2
2
8
Rajala, Reinertson’s Four Scores Rises Lady Flames Past VCU 15-8
2/15/2025 6:10:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
RICHMOND, Va. – Ava Rajala and Taiva Reinertson's career-high four goals apiece lifted Liberty women's lacrosse past VCU 15-8 through the frigid rain on the road Saturday. The Lady Flames (1-2) secured their first triumph of the season while improving to 3-1 all-time against the Rams (0-2).
Liberty opened the scoring with three consecutive goals including the firsts of the season for Cami Merkel and Amelia Loughery. Rajala and Reinertson added back-to-back second-quarter goals along with freshman Olivia Young's first career score and Kate Troutman's first goal after missing the 2024 season due to an injury.
With a 7-4 lead at the half, the Lady Flames outscored VCU 3-2 in the third and pulled away in the beginning of the fourth quarter with four answered goals, five straight including a third quarter. Freshman Olivia Young's first career score kicked off the half before Rajala netted two consecutive goals to stretch the lead to 15-6.
Mackenzie Lehman added her first score of the season after recovering from an injury last season.
Goalkeeper Rachel Hines made five saves, allowing eight goals on 22 shots faced. The sophomore earns her first win since March 29, an 18-11 win at Stetson.
Liberty Goals: Ava Rajala 4; Taiva Reinertson 4; Cami Merkel 1; Mackenzie Lehman 1; Katie Colavito 1; Amelia Loughery 1; Olivia Young 1; Jenna Burrow 1; Kate Troutman 1
Liberty Assists: Cami Merkel 2; Ava Rajala 2; Mackenzie Lehman 1; Taiva Reinertson 1
VCU Goals: Rachel Koeneke 2; Mia George 2; Maggie Ohle 2; Mason Whitmore 1; Kiley Kozak 1
VCU Assists: Rachel Koeneke 2; Mia George 1; Ashley Karn 1; Mason Whitmore 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: W- Rachel Hines (1-2, five saves, 60:00 minutes)
VCU Goalkeepers: L- Molly Coyle (0-2, five saves, 33:52 minutes)
Ava Carillo (six saves, 26:08 minutes)
Turning Point
The Lady Flames held an 11-6 lead entering the fourth quarter. Lehman opened the quarter but was checked by VCU's goalkeeper, Ava Carillo, earning the team's fifth yellow card, guaranteeing Liberty two minutes of woman-up play regardless of scores.
Reinertson and the Lady Flames took advantage and within a minute of Lehman's score, Rajala sparked for two goals (11:17, 8:23).
First Half Summary
Second Half Summary
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
The Lady Flames (1-2) return to Richmond next Saturday to face No. 20 Richmond (2-0). The contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first draw from Robins Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Liberty opened the scoring with three consecutive goals including the firsts of the season for Cami Merkel and Amelia Loughery. Rajala and Reinertson added back-to-back second-quarter goals along with freshman Olivia Young's first career score and Kate Troutman's first goal after missing the 2024 season due to an injury.
With a 7-4 lead at the half, the Lady Flames outscored VCU 3-2 in the third and pulled away in the beginning of the fourth quarter with four answered goals, five straight including a third quarter. Freshman Olivia Young's first career score kicked off the half before Rajala netted two consecutive goals to stretch the lead to 15-6.
Mackenzie Lehman added her first score of the season after recovering from an injury last season.
Goalkeeper Rachel Hines made five saves, allowing eight goals on 22 shots faced. The sophomore earns her first win since March 29, an 18-11 win at Stetson.
Liberty Goals: Ava Rajala 4; Taiva Reinertson 4; Cami Merkel 1; Mackenzie Lehman 1; Katie Colavito 1; Amelia Loughery 1; Olivia Young 1; Jenna Burrow 1; Kate Troutman 1
Liberty Assists: Cami Merkel 2; Ava Rajala 2; Mackenzie Lehman 1; Taiva Reinertson 1
VCU Goals: Rachel Koeneke 2; Mia George 2; Maggie Ohle 2; Mason Whitmore 1; Kiley Kozak 1
VCU Assists: Rachel Koeneke 2; Mia George 1; Ashley Karn 1; Mason Whitmore 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: W- Rachel Hines (1-2, five saves, 60:00 minutes)
VCU Goalkeepers: L- Molly Coyle (0-2, five saves, 33:52 minutes)
Ava Carillo (six saves, 26:08 minutes)
Turning Point
The Lady Flames held an 11-6 lead entering the fourth quarter. Lehman opened the quarter but was checked by VCU's goalkeeper, Ava Carillo, earning the team's fifth yellow card, guaranteeing Liberty two minutes of woman-up play regardless of scores.
Reinertson and the Lady Flames took advantage and within a minute of Lehman's score, Rajala sparked for two goals (11:17, 8:23).
First Half Summary
- Liberty outscored VCU 8-4 while outshooting the Rams 21-10 in the first half.
- The Lady Flames secured five first-quarter draw controls but VCU flipped the script with six in the second quarter.
- VCU turned the ball over to Liberty 18 times in the first half compared to 11 Liberty turnovers.
- Liberty attempted six free position shots, converting on two while VCU was 1-2 in their opportunities.
Second Half Summary
- The Lady Flames outscored VCU 7-4 in the first half, holding VCU to two goals in each quarter.
- VCU outdrew Liberty 7-6 in the second half but turned the ball over 18 times, the same total as the first half.
- Liberty was 0-3 in free-position shots with VCU converting on each attempt in the third and fourth quarter.
- The Lady Flames outshot the Rams 16-12 in the second half.
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Rajala led all players with eight shot attempts. Five Lady Flames recorded at least three shots on Saturday.
- Jenna Burrow led all players with career highs with eight ground balls and five caused turnovers (tied with Katie Colavito).
- Defender Madeleine Klunder, celebrating a birthday Saturday, matched a career-high four caused turnovers (four games).
- Hines recorded career-highs with five ground balls and three caused turnovers. She has tallied nine ground balls and six caused turnovers this season.
- Ava Menna earned a career-high seven draw controls.
Up Next
The Lady Flames (1-2) return to Richmond next Saturday to face No. 20 Richmond (2-0). The contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first draw from Robins Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
LIBERTY
VCU
Shots
37
23
Turnovers
24
37
Caused Turnovers
27
13
Draw Controls
12
14
Free-Position Shots
9
4
Ground Balls
32
26
Game Leaders
G
4
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
G
4
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
2
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseLiberty Lacrosse: Giving Hope to a New Teammate
Tuesday, June 03
Coach Nangle Talks About Preparing For The NCAA WLAX Tournament
Tuesday, May 06
Mackenzie Lehman & Katie Colavito Talk About Preparing For The NCAA WLAX Tournament
Tuesday, May 06
Coach Nangle & Mackenzie Lehman Talk About Winning The ASUN Tournament
Saturday, May 03