Liberty Opens OVC Play with 6-1 Victory over Southern Indiana
9/27/2025 4:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, VA. – The Liberty Flames eased past the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles to begin Ohio Valley Conference action 6-1 on a rainy afternoon at Osborne Stadium.
Dominating play throughout the 90 minutes, the host Flames struck for four goals, while not allowing a shot attempt by USI during the first half.
Forward Zach Lifferth scored the first three Liberty goals of the contest, and midfielder Dylan Swinehart netted two goals for the Flames, one in each half. Forward Jayden Ramos also scored for Liberty in the contest.
With the win, the Flames end a two-game losing streak. Liberty moves to 1-0 in OVC play and 5-2-2 overall. USI drops to 0-1 in conference and 1-7-1 overall.
Scoring Summary
7' – LIBERTY- Zach Lifferth (Assisted by Elijah John and Sam Farner)
21' – LIBERTY- Zach Lifferth (Assisted by Perry Blay)
29' – LIBERTY- Zach Lifferth (Assisted by Kai Tamashiro)
34' – LIBERTY- Dylan Swinehart (Assisted by Kai Tamashiro and Perry Blay)
70' – LIBERTY- Jayden Ramos (Assisted by Zach Lifferth and Casey McCarthy)
74' – USI – Tony Murphy (Unassisted)
81' – LIBERTY – Dylan Swinehart (Assisted by Jayden Ramos)
Key Stats & Notes
Next Up
Liberty hosts the Incarnate Word for an OVC match at Osborne Stadium this Thursday. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Dominating play throughout the 90 minutes, the host Flames struck for four goals, while not allowing a shot attempt by USI during the first half.
Forward Zach Lifferth scored the first three Liberty goals of the contest, and midfielder Dylan Swinehart netted two goals for the Flames, one in each half. Forward Jayden Ramos also scored for Liberty in the contest.
With the win, the Flames end a two-game losing streak. Liberty moves to 1-0 in OVC play and 5-2-2 overall. USI drops to 0-1 in conference and 1-7-1 overall.
Scoring Summary
7' – LIBERTY- Zach Lifferth (Assisted by Elijah John and Sam Farner)
21' – LIBERTY- Zach Lifferth (Assisted by Perry Blay)
29' – LIBERTY- Zach Lifferth (Assisted by Kai Tamashiro)
34' – LIBERTY- Dylan Swinehart (Assisted by Kai Tamashiro and Perry Blay)
70' – LIBERTY- Jayden Ramos (Assisted by Zach Lifferth and Casey McCarthy)
74' – USI – Tony Murphy (Unassisted)
81' – LIBERTY – Dylan Swinehart (Assisted by Jayden Ramos)
Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty outshot Southern Indiana, 27-5, in the game. The Flames had 16 shots on goal, while the Screaming Eagles put three shots on goal.
- Liberty held a 7-1 advantage over USI in corner kicks.
- Lifferth becomes the first Liberty player since Michael Huss scored three goals against Western Illinois in a 7-0 win on Sept. 28, 2024. In addition, Lifferth had an assist in the game for seven points, the most by a Flame since Tresor Mbuyu had seven points in a 5-0 win at VMI on Aug. 28, 2018.
- With his seven-point game, Lifferth leads Liberty with five goals and in scoring with 11 points.
- Swinehart scored the first two goals of his career in the game.
- Ramos scored his second goal of the season and had an assist. Ramos has four assists on the year.
- Liberty defender Perry Blay recorded two assists in the match. He now leads the Flames with five assists on the year.
- Flames freshman forward Kai Tamashiro had two assists in the game. Tamashiro has four assists on the season.
- Liberty goalkeeper Tyler Beck made two saves in the match. USI goalkeeper Jacob English recorded 10 saves in the contest.
- For the third consecutive season, the Flames start OVC play with a victory. Liberty is 4-1-1 at home in 2025.
- Liberty and USI will meet again this season in conference play in Evansville, Ind., on Oct. 9.
Next Up
Liberty hosts the Incarnate Word for an OVC match at Osborne Stadium this Thursday. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
29' | HE'S UNSTOPPABLE ??
— Liberty Men's Soccer (@LibertyMSoccer) September 27, 2025
ZACH LIFFERTH WITH THE FIRST-HALF HAT TRICK?? pic.twitter.com/pjGT22oCBZ
34' | GOALLLLLL??
— Liberty Men's Soccer (@LibertyMSoccer) September 27, 2025
Dylan Swinehart with his first goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/BFwlbJNPTy
Players Mentioned
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