Thursday, April 10
Lynchburg, Va.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
9-5 (4-0)
23
vs
12
Lindenwood
9-3 (2-2)
1
2
3
4
F
LINDENWOOD
1
6
4
1
12
LIBERTY
7
9
5
2
23
Merkel Shines as Liberty Tames Lindenwood 23-12
4/10/2025 6:11:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Cami Merkel's big day with career highs with nine points (4g, 5a) and five caused turnovers lifts the Lady Flames (9-5, 4-0 ASUN) past Lindenwood 23-12 (9-3, 2-2 ASUN) on a rainy Thursday afternoon. The win clinched Liberty a spot in the Atlantic Sun Women's Lacrosse Championship, an event that will be held at the Liberty Lacrosse Field from May 1-3.
Taiva Reinertson (5g, 2a) and Mackenzie Lehman (5g) shared the goal-scoring lead for the game. Merkel was a menace all over the field, involved in nine goals while setting a career-high with five caused turnovers. Five Lady Flames, including Katie Colavito (3g, 2a) and Ava Rajala (3g, 1a), recorded at least four points Thursday.
The Lady Flames dominated the game from the jump, recording the first three scores of the contest led by Merkel with the first two. After the Lions scored their first of the day from Isabella Rulapaugh (10:00), Liberty entered a torrid scoring run with the next seven goals over the next 13 minutes of the game to take a commanding 10-1 lead.
Lindenwood narrowed its deficit to 12-6 before Liberty pushed its lead up to 21-11 before netting the final two goals of the day.
With the victory, head coach Kelly Nangle earned her 100th career win at the helm of the Lady Flames
The Lady Flames halt a three-game skid with the victory and improve to 5-2 at home this season. The team remains unbeaten against Lindenwood with a 3-0 record now all-time against the Lions.
Liberty currently shares the No. 1 seed for the ASUN women's Lacrosse Championships with Jacksonville. The two programs will meet in Florida on April 26.
Liberty Goals: Taiva Reinertson 5; Mackenzie Lehman 5; Cami Merkel 4; Katie Colavito 3; Ava Rajala 3; Kendall Coss 2; Olivia Young 1
Liberty Assists: Cami Merkel 5; Katie Colavito 2; Taiva Reinertson 2; Ava Rajala 1
Lindenwood Goals: Isabella Rulapaugh 2; Luci Selander 2; Breylin Bright 1; Ryleigh Cavanaugh 1
Lindenwood Assists: Ryleigh Cavanaugh 4; Luci Selander 2; Isabella Rulapaugh 2; Alissa DiGiacinto 2; Reese Krieger 1; Tatum Krieger 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: W – Rachel Hines (9-5, six saves, 12 goals, 60:00)
Lindenwood Goalkeepers: L – Aislinn Sweeney (9-3, two saves, six goals, 10:23)
Elizabeth Goth (11 saves, 17 goals 49:37)
Turning Point
Midway through the second quarter, the Lady Flames built up a 10-1 lead following a stretch of seven unanswered goals. The Lions responded with a goal from Ryleigh Cavanaugh (11:47) before Liberty responded with back-to-back goals from Rajala (11:21) and Reinertson (8:58) to push the gap to 12-2.
Lindenwood made a strong push to get back into the game with four consecutive goals including a pair from Luci Selander (8:13, 3:09). The final two minutes of the game saw a total of five goals, four from Liberty and one from Lindenwood. With just a second left in the half, Lehman netted her fourth tally of the day to grow the lead to 16-7 entering the half.
First Half Summary
Second Half Summary
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
Liberty (9-5, 4-0 ASUN) prepares its final regular season home game, taking on Kennesaw State (5-9, 0-4 ASUN) on Saturday at 11:00 from the Liberty Lacrosse Field. The Lady Flames plan to honor its senior class of 10 student-athletes in a pregame ceremony.
Taiva Reinertson (5g, 2a) and Mackenzie Lehman (5g) shared the goal-scoring lead for the game. Merkel was a menace all over the field, involved in nine goals while setting a career-high with five caused turnovers. Five Lady Flames, including Katie Colavito (3g, 2a) and Ava Rajala (3g, 1a), recorded at least four points Thursday.
The Lady Flames dominated the game from the jump, recording the first three scores of the contest led by Merkel with the first two. After the Lions scored their first of the day from Isabella Rulapaugh (10:00), Liberty entered a torrid scoring run with the next seven goals over the next 13 minutes of the game to take a commanding 10-1 lead.
Lindenwood narrowed its deficit to 12-6 before Liberty pushed its lead up to 21-11 before netting the final two goals of the day.
With the victory, head coach Kelly Nangle earned her 100th career win at the helm of the Lady Flames
The Lady Flames halt a three-game skid with the victory and improve to 5-2 at home this season. The team remains unbeaten against Lindenwood with a 3-0 record now all-time against the Lions.
Liberty currently shares the No. 1 seed for the ASUN women's Lacrosse Championships with Jacksonville. The two programs will meet in Florida on April 26.
FLAMES GOT FLAIR ??
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) April 10, 2025
Ava Rajala of @libertywlax scores a behind-the-back goal in today's win over Lindenwood. #NCAAWLAX x ?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/RnjXg7imEX
Liberty Goals: Taiva Reinertson 5; Mackenzie Lehman 5; Cami Merkel 4; Katie Colavito 3; Ava Rajala 3; Kendall Coss 2; Olivia Young 1
Liberty Assists: Cami Merkel 5; Katie Colavito 2; Taiva Reinertson 2; Ava Rajala 1
Lindenwood Goals: Isabella Rulapaugh 2; Luci Selander 2; Breylin Bright 1; Ryleigh Cavanaugh 1
Lindenwood Assists: Ryleigh Cavanaugh 4; Luci Selander 2; Isabella Rulapaugh 2; Alissa DiGiacinto 2; Reese Krieger 1; Tatum Krieger 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: W – Rachel Hines (9-5, six saves, 12 goals, 60:00)
Lindenwood Goalkeepers: L – Aislinn Sweeney (9-3, two saves, six goals, 10:23)
Elizabeth Goth (11 saves, 17 goals 49:37)
Turning Point
Midway through the second quarter, the Lady Flames built up a 10-1 lead following a stretch of seven unanswered goals. The Lions responded with a goal from Ryleigh Cavanaugh (11:47) before Liberty responded with back-to-back goals from Rajala (11:21) and Reinertson (8:58) to push the gap to 12-2.
Lindenwood made a strong push to get back into the game with four consecutive goals including a pair from Luci Selander (8:13, 3:09). The final two minutes of the game saw a total of five goals, four from Liberty and one from Lindenwood. With just a second left in the half, Lehman netted her fourth tally of the day to grow the lead to 16-7 entering the half.
First Half Summary
- Liberty outshot Lindenwood 27-16 in the opening half. The Lions managed just five shots in the first quarter.
- The teams won an even 12 draw controls in the first half.
- Liberty was a perfect 13-of-13 in clear attempts while Lindenwood converted 5-of-8 attempts.
- The Lions turned the ball over 14 times in the first 30 minutes compared to eight from Liberty.
- Liberty went 4-of-5 including a perfect 3-of-3 in free-position attempts in the first half. Lindenwood went 0-of-2 in free-position opportunities.
Second Half Summary
- The Lady Flames outscored the Lions 7-5 including outshooting Lindenwood 20-13.
- Liberty scored six of the final eight goals of the contest.
- Two of Lindenwood's four third-quarter scores came via free-position attempts (2-of-2).
- Liberty continued to pressure defensively with the Lions turning the ball over 11 times to seven from Liberty.
Lady Flames News & Notes
- In the second quarter, Jenna Burrow recorded her 50th career caused turnover. She finished sharing the game-high with five caused turnovers.
- With six saves today, Rachel Hines achieved her 100th save of the season. Her season averages have improved to a 13.78 goals-against average and a .392 save percentage.
- With 44 goals this spring, Reinertson ranks No. 4 in program history for goals in a single season. Lehman trails just behind her at No. 5 with 41 goals.
- With 57 points this season, Reinertson now ranks No. 8 in program history for points in a single season. Lehman with 53 points ranks No. 13 all-time.
- As a team Liberty recorded 23 caused turnovers to 13 from Lindenwood.
- Liberty finished with a 5-of-9 clip from free-position attempts.
- The Lady Flames held the edge in ground balls 25-18. Burrow and Kendall Nye shared a game-high five ground balls.
- Liberty finished the game with a 22-of-23 clearance mark.
- The Lady Flames held the edge in draw controls 19-18. Ava Menna led all players with 12 draw controls.
Up Next
Liberty (9-5, 4-0 ASUN) prepares its final regular season home game, taking on Kennesaw State (5-9, 0-4 ASUN) on Saturday at 11:00 from the Liberty Lacrosse Field. The Lady Flames plan to honor its senior class of 10 student-athletes in a pregame ceremony.
Team Stats
LIN
LIBERTY
Shots
29
47
Turnovers
25
15
Caused Turnovers
13
23
Draw Controls
18
19
Free-Position Shots
5
9
Ground Balls
18
25
Game Leaders
G
5
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
5
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
G
4
A
5
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
5
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ 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