Saturday, March 1
Lynchburg, Va.
3:00 PM ET
Liberty University
4-2
21
vs
4
Longwood
0-4
1
2
3
4
F
LONGWOOD
1
0
2
1
4
LIBERTY
9
5
6
1
21
Lady Flames Ignite for a 21-4 Take Down of Longwood
3/1/2025 8:13:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Cami Merkel and Taiva Reinertson scored three goals apiece to help Liberty (4-2) blaze past Longwood (0-4) 21-4 at home on Saturday evening. The Lady Flames secured their first four-game winning streak for the first time since 2023 with the win.
Eleven different Lady Flames recorded a goal on Saturday. Three - Blakely Doyle, Nina Gray and Sara Olivia - recorded their first career goal. Freshman goalkeeper Katy Varaksa made her Liberty debut, making three saves, recording two ground balls and a caused turnover with one goal allowed.
Liberty exploded for nine first-quarter goals, while not allowing a goal until the 1:44 mark after eight consecutive scores. Merkel, Reinertson and Mackenzie Lehman each added two goals in the opening period. The Lady Flames held Longwood scoreless in the second quarter while adding five tallies including Reinertson's third of the contest. Liberty wrapped the triumph with five of the final six scores.
Midfielder Ava Menna recorded a career-high 13 draw controls, helping Liberty hold a 17-10 advantage for the game.
Liberty held Logwood to covert only 11-of-28 clear attempts, tying a season high with 27 caused turnovers (Feb. 15 vs VCU).
The Lady Flames fell two shots shy of the program record with 50 shots on Saturday. The previous shared record of 52 includes last year's 16-4 triumph over Longwood (Feb. 1).
Liberty Goals: Cami Merkel 3; Taiva Reinertson 3; Mackenzie Lehman 2; Brooke Beard 2; Ava Rajala 2; Amelia Loughery 2; Celena Kerr 2; Blakely Doyle 1; Katie Colavito 1; Kendall Coss 1; Nina Gray 1; Sara Olivia 1
Liberty Assists: Mackenzie Lehman 2; Cami Merkel 2; Kate Troutman 2; Olivia Young 2; Brooke Beard 1; Blakely Doyle 1; Ava Menna 1; Taiva Reinertson 1.
Longwood Goals: Jordan Fitzgerald1; Ellie Rumbaugh 1; Jordan Feder 1; Mikeala Cook 1
Longwood Assists: Miranda Helfenbein 1; Anastasia Lajoie 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: W – Rachel Hines (4-2, no saves, 15 minutes)
Taylor Gallarello (one save, 15 minutes)
Mara Tellers (no saves, 15 minutes)
Katy Varaksa (three saves, 15 minutes)
Longwood Goalkeepers: L – Cybella Smith (0-3, seven saves, 18:06 minutes)
Amelia Carlile (six saves, 21:39 minutes)
Lily Parker (two saves, 20:15 minutes)
Turning Point
Liberty made its mark immediately following the opening draw. Katie Colavito notched the first goal of the contest just 19 seconds into the game for her eighth goal of the season and seventh in two games.
The Lady Flames added eight more goals in the opening quarter to hold a commanding 9-1 lead entering the second quarter. Liberty recorded 10 goals in Wednesday's contest as part of a 26-21 win over High Point.
First Half Summary
Second Half Summary
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
Liberty (4-2) prepares to host two matchups to wrap up a four-game home stand at the Liberty Lacrosse Field. The Lady Flames welcome Stetson (1-3) on Thursday at 1 p.m. and American (3-3) on Saturday at 4 p.m. Thursday's contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Eleven different Lady Flames recorded a goal on Saturday. Three - Blakely Doyle, Nina Gray and Sara Olivia - recorded their first career goal. Freshman goalkeeper Katy Varaksa made her Liberty debut, making three saves, recording two ground balls and a caused turnover with one goal allowed.
Liberty exploded for nine first-quarter goals, while not allowing a goal until the 1:44 mark after eight consecutive scores. Merkel, Reinertson and Mackenzie Lehman each added two goals in the opening period. The Lady Flames held Longwood scoreless in the second quarter while adding five tallies including Reinertson's third of the contest. Liberty wrapped the triumph with five of the final six scores.
Midfielder Ava Menna recorded a career-high 13 draw controls, helping Liberty hold a 17-10 advantage for the game.
Liberty held Logwood to covert only 11-of-28 clear attempts, tying a season high with 27 caused turnovers (Feb. 15 vs VCU).
The Lady Flames fell two shots shy of the program record with 50 shots on Saturday. The previous shared record of 52 includes last year's 16-4 triumph over Longwood (Feb. 1).
Liberty Goals: Cami Merkel 3; Taiva Reinertson 3; Mackenzie Lehman 2; Brooke Beard 2; Ava Rajala 2; Amelia Loughery 2; Celena Kerr 2; Blakely Doyle 1; Katie Colavito 1; Kendall Coss 1; Nina Gray 1; Sara Olivia 1
Liberty Assists: Mackenzie Lehman 2; Cami Merkel 2; Kate Troutman 2; Olivia Young 2; Brooke Beard 1; Blakely Doyle 1; Ava Menna 1; Taiva Reinertson 1.
Longwood Goals: Jordan Fitzgerald1; Ellie Rumbaugh 1; Jordan Feder 1; Mikeala Cook 1
Longwood Assists: Miranda Helfenbein 1; Anastasia Lajoie 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: W – Rachel Hines (4-2, no saves, 15 minutes)
Taylor Gallarello (one save, 15 minutes)
Mara Tellers (no saves, 15 minutes)
Katy Varaksa (three saves, 15 minutes)
Longwood Goalkeepers: L – Cybella Smith (0-3, seven saves, 18:06 minutes)
Amelia Carlile (six saves, 21:39 minutes)
Lily Parker (two saves, 20:15 minutes)
Turning Point
Liberty made its mark immediately following the opening draw. Katie Colavito notched the first goal of the contest just 19 seconds into the game for her eighth goal of the season and seventh in two games.
The Lady Flames added eight more goals in the opening quarter to hold a commanding 9-1 lead entering the second quarter. Liberty recorded 10 goals in Wednesday's contest as part of a 26-21 win over High Point.
First Half Summary
- Liberty outscored Longwood 14-1 in the first half.
- The Lady Flames registered 36 shots in the opening 30 minutes, allowing just three shots by the Lancers.
- Longwood managed 12 saves including seven in the first quarter and five in the second.
- Liberty was a perfect 8-of-8 in clears in the first half while Longwood went 0-of-4 in the second quarter.
- Longwood turned the ball over 18 times in the first half.
Second Half Summary
- Liberty outscored Longwood 7-3 in the second half, with six scores in the third quarter.
- Both squads struggled with possession with Liberty converting 2-of-5 clears and Longwood clearing 1-of-6 opportunities.
- The first score of the fourth quarter came at the 3:48 mark (Longwood's Jordan Feder).
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty outshot Longwood 50-10 on Saturday. Reinertson led all players with six shots. Twelve Lady Flames recorded multiple shots.
- Longwood turned the ball over 39 times on Saturday with 27 caused by the Lady Flames.
- Defenders Jenna Burrow and freshman Ava McGlothlin each recorded four caused turnovers. Longwood's Miranda Helfenbein caused a game-high five caused turnovers.
- The Lady Flames finished 3-of-5 in free-position attempts, their second consecutive game converting at least 50 percent of their chances.
Up Next
Liberty (4-2) prepares to host two matchups to wrap up a four-game home stand at the Liberty Lacrosse Field. The Lady Flames welcome Stetson (1-3) on Thursday at 1 p.m. and American (3-3) on Saturday at 4 p.m. Thursday's contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
LWU
LIBERTY
Shots
10
50
Turnovers
40
28
Caused Turnovers
19
32
Draw Controls
10
17
Free-Position Shots
1
5
Ground Balls
26
39
Game Leaders
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
3
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
1
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseLiberty Lacrosse: Giving Hope to a New Teammate
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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