.png&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
Garner, Littleton Headline 7 on 2025 CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team
8/7/2025 12:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty garnered a wealth of respect in the 2025 Conference USA Women's Soccer Preseason Poll with a league-leading seven players featured on the Preseason All-Conference team. The Lady Flames swept the superlative awards with forward Ivy Garner selected as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and defender Lauren Littleton chosen as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Liberty begins its quest for its second CUSA title in three years as the favorite in the 2025 preseason poll with nine first-place votes (119 points). The results top 2024's preseason poll when Liberty received eight-first place votes. Liberty sweeps the preseason superlative awards for the second year in a row. Ivy Garner is receiving her second straight selection as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Sallie Garner was named the 2024 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Joining Ivy Garner and Littleton on the 2025 Preseason All-Conference team are forwards Halle Engle and Avery Paulson, midfielders Elise Graf and Grabby Miranda and defender Sallie Garner.
The Lady Flames' seven selections to the 2025 Preseason All-Conference team surpasses last season's total of four. Ivy and Sallie Garner were chosen to the team for the second straight year. No other team received more than a single selection.
Ivy Garner was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team for the second straight year. She was also selected to the 2024 CUSA All-Tournament team. The forward was recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team and the VaSID All-State second team. As a junior, she finished the 2024 season with nine goals and a team-leading eight assists for a total of 26 points.
Littleton was a two-time selection as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week last season. She helped to lead a defense that ranked No. 12 in the country with a 0.619 goals-against average (GAA) The Friendswood, Texas native started 20 games last season and totaled over 1,650 minutes played. The defender totaled 13 complete 90-minute performances including a stretch of playing every minute across seven games from Sept. 15-Oct. 13.
Engle was selected to the CUSA All-Conference first team last season after she led Liberty with 12 goals and 27 points (three assists). She was also recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team and was named to the VaSID All-State first team. The forward played a pivotal role in Liberty's 2-1 victory at Virginia Tech with two goals to secure Liberty's first victory over a ranked opponent.
Paulson was selected to the CUSA All-Freshman team last season. The forward led Liberty freshmen with nine points, five assists and over 1,100 minutes played. She also scored two goals two goals. She made an appearance in all 21 games, making 15 starts.
Graf played a pivotal role as both a midfielder and a defender for Liberty last season. She was a two-time CUSA Defensive Player of the Week selection. Graf started all 21 games and recorded one goal and three assists with over 1,500 minutes played.
Miranda was included on the CUSA All-Conference second team last season. She appeared in all 21 games, made 20 starts and played over 1,200 minutes. The Northborough, Mass., native led Liberty midfielders with four goals and 10 points with two assists.
Sallie Garner was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team last season after being named the 2024 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She was also recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team. The defender started all 21 games while playing over 1,500 minutes. She recorded one goal and led Liberty defenders with five assists and seven points.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Ivy Garner, Liberty
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Littleton, Liberty
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK: Valery Restrepo, FIU
D: Sallie Garner, Liberty
D: Lauren Littleton, Liberty
D: Jena Johannes, NM State
D: Ashlyn Neireiter, UTEP
MF: Elise Graf, Liberty
MF: Gabby Miranda, Liberty
MF: Jasmine Marquez, Sam Houston
F: Halle Engle, Liberty
F: Ivy Garner, Liberty
F: Avery Paulson, Liberty
Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
Forecast calls for 100% chance of Flames to run @ConferenceUSA ????
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) August 7, 2025
Liberty was selected as the favorites and led the league with 7?? preseason all-conference selections. pic.twitter.com/G5Eb5xq9S0
Joining Ivy Garner and Littleton on the 2025 Preseason All-Conference team are forwards Halle Engle and Avery Paulson, midfielders Elise Graf and Grabby Miranda and defender Sallie Garner.
The Lady Flames' seven selections to the 2025 Preseason All-Conference team surpasses last season's total of four. Ivy and Sallie Garner were chosen to the team for the second straight year. No other team received more than a single selection.
Ivy Garner was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team for the second straight year. She was also selected to the 2024 CUSA All-Tournament team. The forward was recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team and the VaSID All-State second team. As a junior, she finished the 2024 season with nine goals and a team-leading eight assists for a total of 26 points.
Littleton was a two-time selection as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week last season. She helped to lead a defense that ranked No. 12 in the country with a 0.619 goals-against average (GAA) The Friendswood, Texas native started 20 games last season and totaled over 1,650 minutes played. The defender totaled 13 complete 90-minute performances including a stretch of playing every minute across seven games from Sept. 15-Oct. 13.
Engle was selected to the CUSA All-Conference first team last season after she led Liberty with 12 goals and 27 points (three assists). She was also recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team and was named to the VaSID All-State first team. The forward played a pivotal role in Liberty's 2-1 victory at Virginia Tech with two goals to secure Liberty's first victory over a ranked opponent.
Paulson was selected to the CUSA All-Freshman team last season. The forward led Liberty freshmen with nine points, five assists and over 1,100 minutes played. She also scored two goals two goals. She made an appearance in all 21 games, making 15 starts.
Graf played a pivotal role as both a midfielder and a defender for Liberty last season. She was a two-time CUSA Defensive Player of the Week selection. Graf started all 21 games and recorded one goal and three assists with over 1,500 minutes played.
Miranda was included on the CUSA All-Conference second team last season. She appeared in all 21 games, made 20 starts and played over 1,200 minutes. The Northborough, Mass., native led Liberty midfielders with four goals and 10 points with two assists.
Sallie Garner was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team last season after being named the 2024 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She was also recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team. The defender started all 21 games while playing over 1,500 minutes. She recorded one goal and led Liberty defenders with five assists and seven points.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Ivy Garner, Liberty
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Littleton, Liberty
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK: Valery Restrepo, FIU
D: Sallie Garner, Liberty
D: Lauren Littleton, Liberty
D: Jena Johannes, NM State
D: Ashlyn Neireiter, UTEP
MF: Elise Graf, Liberty
MF: Gabby Miranda, Liberty
MF: Jasmine Marquez, Sam Houston
F: Halle Engle, Liberty
F: Ivy Garner, Liberty
F: Avery Paulson, Liberty
Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
- Liberty (9) 119
- FIU (2) 109
- Missouri State (1) 100
- NM State 94
- MTSU 82
- Sam Houston 64
- Delaware 54
- Kennesaw State 47
- Western Kentucky 39
- Louisiana Tech 30
- Jacksonville State 27
- UTEP 27
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerLiberty Women's Soccer Defeats KSU
Friday, October 10
Coach Wedemeyer & Halle Engle Talk About The Win Over KSU
Friday, October 10
Carly Keene: Why Liberty?
Tuesday, October 07
Gameday with Liberty Women's Soccer
Wednesday, September 10