Tuesday, April 1
Louisville, Ky.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
8-4
10
at
12
Louisville
6-7
1
2
3
4
F
LIBERTY
1
3
5
1
10
Louisville
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12
Liberty Falls Short 12-10 at Louisville
4/1/2025 5:32:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Lady Flames (8-4) held a late lead over Louisville (6-7) but were unable to hang on, falling 12-10 on the road to the Cardinals on Tuesday afternoon.
Louisville held a lead through the majority of the tightly contested matchup. After holding a 3-1 edge following the first 15 minutes of play, Louisville's lead slipped to one, 5-4, going into the half. The Lady Flames tied the game (7-7) for the first time at the tail end of a three-score run at the 4:47 mark in the third quarter. Liberty held two leads on Tuesday at 8-7 and 10-9.
The Cardinals scored the final three goals of the contest, holding Liberty scoreless over the final 12 minutes of the game. Louisville's Izzy Seikel scored the game-winning goal at the 6:02 mark in the fourth quarter. Liberty was held to just two shots in the final frame of the contest.
Ava Rajala scored a team-high three goals while Mackenzie Lehman and Kendall Coss added a pair.
The loss marked a 1-1 road trip for the Lady Flames, who topped Queens on Saturday 18-17. The game was the last of four straight with Liberty as the visitor, going 2-2 in the stretch.
Liberty Goals: Ava Rajala 3; Mackenzie Lehman 2; Kendall Coss 2; Taiva Reinertson 1; Cami Merkel 1; Celena Kerr 1
Liberty Assists: None
Louisville Goals: Reese Whiteman 4; Izzy Seikel 2; Charlotte Jackson 2; Rian Adkins 1; Maggie McMahon 1; Lauren Figas 1; Erin Nicholson 1
Louisville Assists: Rian Adkins 2; Maggie McMahon 2; Lauren Figas 1; Cece Reilly 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: L – Rachel Hines (8-4, 13 saves, 12 goals, 60:00)
Louisville Goalkeepers: W – J Pleck (6-7, six saves, 10 goals, 60:00)
Turning Point
The Lady Flames caught fire in the third quarter to take their first lead of the game. Liberty scored three consecutive goals from Ava Rajala (10:36), Cami Merkel (10:13) and Celena Kerr (7:20). Beginning with the Cardinals, the two squads each scored back-to-back goals with the Lady Flames' Kendall Coss (1:15, Q3) and Mackenzie Lehman (12:06, Q4).
Trailing, 10-9, the Cardinals put the clamps on in the final frame, stifling Liberty's attack to few chances. Louisville scored the final three tallies of the game from Charlotte Jackson (10:48), Izzy Seikel (6:02) and Lauren Figas (4:31) Liberty managed just two shots in the fourth quarter and turned the ball over four times.
First Half Summary
Second Half Summary
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
Liberty gets set for three consecutive home games beginning with this Sunday's contest against South Florida at 12 p.m. The first-ever matchup between the programs will be broadcast live on ESPN+ from the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
Louisville held a lead through the majority of the tightly contested matchup. After holding a 3-1 edge following the first 15 minutes of play, Louisville's lead slipped to one, 5-4, going into the half. The Lady Flames tied the game (7-7) for the first time at the tail end of a three-score run at the 4:47 mark in the third quarter. Liberty held two leads on Tuesday at 8-7 and 10-9.
The Cardinals scored the final three goals of the contest, holding Liberty scoreless over the final 12 minutes of the game. Louisville's Izzy Seikel scored the game-winning goal at the 6:02 mark in the fourth quarter. Liberty was held to just two shots in the final frame of the contest.
Ava Rajala scored a team-high three goals while Mackenzie Lehman and Kendall Coss added a pair.
The loss marked a 1-1 road trip for the Lady Flames, who topped Queens on Saturday 18-17. The game was the last of four straight with Liberty as the visitor, going 2-2 in the stretch.
Liberty Goals: Ava Rajala 3; Mackenzie Lehman 2; Kendall Coss 2; Taiva Reinertson 1; Cami Merkel 1; Celena Kerr 1
Liberty Assists: None
Louisville Goals: Reese Whiteman 4; Izzy Seikel 2; Charlotte Jackson 2; Rian Adkins 1; Maggie McMahon 1; Lauren Figas 1; Erin Nicholson 1
Louisville Assists: Rian Adkins 2; Maggie McMahon 2; Lauren Figas 1; Cece Reilly 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: L – Rachel Hines (8-4, 13 saves, 12 goals, 60:00)
Louisville Goalkeepers: W – J Pleck (6-7, six saves, 10 goals, 60:00)
Turning Point
The Lady Flames caught fire in the third quarter to take their first lead of the game. Liberty scored three consecutive goals from Ava Rajala (10:36), Cami Merkel (10:13) and Celena Kerr (7:20). Beginning with the Cardinals, the two squads each scored back-to-back goals with the Lady Flames' Kendall Coss (1:15, Q3) and Mackenzie Lehman (12:06, Q4).
Trailing, 10-9, the Cardinals put the clamps on in the final frame, stifling Liberty's attack to few chances. Louisville scored the final three tallies of the game from Charlotte Jackson (10:48), Izzy Seikel (6:02) and Lauren Figas (4:31) Liberty managed just two shots in the fourth quarter and turned the ball over four times.
First Half Summary
- Despite trailing the entire first half, 5-4 going into the break, Liberty kept it close despite trailing 5-2 at the 7:36 mark of the second quarter.
- Louisville outshot Liberty 17-14.
- Hines made eight saves in the first half for the Lady Flames while Pleck made three in the opening half.
- Liberty outdrew Louisville 7-4 in the first half.
- The Lady Flames were a perfect 11-of-11 in clear attempts in the first half, while the Cardinals failed to clear five times, going 12-of-17.
Second Half Summary
- Louisville outscored Liberty 7-6 in the second half and 3-1 in the fourth quarter.
- The Cardinals outshot the Lady Flames 20-11 including 13-2 in the final 15 minutes.
- Draw controls favored Louisville 9-6 in the second half.
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Louisville outshot Liberty 37-25 on Tuesday with the Cardinals favored in shots on goal 25-16.
- Liberty held a 19-17 advantage in ground balls, but Louisville forced 13 caused turnovers to 10 by Liberty.
- The teams drew an even 13 draw controls. Ava Menna led all players with seven draw controls. The sophomore recorded her 100th career draw control in the game.
- With her third quarter goal, Cami Merkel moved to No. 2 all-time among Liberty goal scorers all-time with 129. She trails just teammate Mackenzie Lehman (147).
- Madeleine Klunder led all players with four ground balls. She entered the 100 career ground ball club in the fourth quarter.
- Liberty made just two free-position attempts (1-of-2) compared to eight for Louisville (1-of-8).
Up Next
Liberty gets set for three consecutive home games beginning with this Sunday's contest against South Florida at 12 p.m. The first-ever matchup between the programs will be broadcast live on ESPN+ from the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
Team Stats
LIBERTY
LOU
Shots
25
37
Turnovers
21
20
Caused Turnovers
14
13
Draw Controls
13
13
Free-Position Shots
2
8
Ground Balls
19
17
Game Leaders
Players
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
2
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
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