Women’s Soccer Earns No. 23 National Ranking, Highest in Program History
10/13/2026 1:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's soccer team has received a No. 23 ranking in the latest United Soccer Coaches/IWSOC Weekly Coaches Poll, the organizations announced on Tuesday.
The Lady Flames are currently 11-2-1 (4-0-0 CUSA) and are on a Division I-leading, nine-game winning streak (tied with Southern Illinois and Boise State). Liberty has been the highest-ranked team in the South Region since Sept. 8. The Lady Flames were among teams receiving votes (5) in last Tuesday's Coaches Poll.
The Lady Flames are paced by Halle Engle on the attack with six goals and four game-winning tallies. Four on the team, Avenley Monteith (3), Izzie Smulik (3), Margaret Garner (2) and Isabella Wedemeyer (2), have recorded multiple scores.
Liberty is outscoring its opponents 23-10 this season and has allowed just a single goal in four Conference USA matchups this season. The team has recorded eight shutouts this season, led by goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (9-1-1) with five.
Across its nine-game winning streak, Liberty is outscoring its foes 18-5 with six clean sheets. They also own a ten-game winning streak in CUSA competition, currently the longest in Division l. Liberty is 7-0 at home this season and carries a 13-game winning streak at home, including three games hosting the 2025 CUSA Championship.
Liberty (10-2-1, .808) is on pace for one of its best seasons in program history. Under head coach Lang Wedemeyer, the Lady Flames' best season was in 2023, when Liberty compiled a 16-3-1 (.825) record on the way to its first CUSA Championship title. The team's only previous ranking was in 2024, when it was ranked No. 24 after topping No. 21 Virginia Tech on the road.
The United Soccer Coaches/IWSOC Coaches Poll is released every Tuesday during the regular season and is an indicator of the week-to-week status of qualified programs. It is not considered a guide or indicator of eligibility for championship selection. To be eligible for consideration in the United Soccer Coaches/IWSOC Coaches Poll, a school must be a member of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program.
No. 23 Liberty (11-2-1, 4-0-0) hits the road for a single game this week, matching up against Kennesaw State (5-6-3, 2-2-0 CUSA) on Saturday at 6 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ from Fifth Third Stadium.
The Lady Flames are currently 11-2-1 (4-0-0 CUSA) and are on a Division I-leading, nine-game winning streak (tied with Southern Illinois and Boise State). Liberty has been the highest-ranked team in the South Region since Sept. 8. The Lady Flames were among teams receiving votes (5) in last Tuesday's Coaches Poll.
The Lady Flames are paced by Halle Engle on the attack with six goals and four game-winning tallies. Four on the team, Avenley Monteith (3), Izzie Smulik (3), Margaret Garner (2) and Isabella Wedemeyer (2), have recorded multiple scores.
Liberty is outscoring its opponents 23-10 this season and has allowed just a single goal in four Conference USA matchups this season. The team has recorded eight shutouts this season, led by goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (9-1-1) with five.
Across its nine-game winning streak, Liberty is outscoring its foes 18-5 with six clean sheets. They also own a ten-game winning streak in CUSA competition, currently the longest in Division l. Liberty is 7-0 at home this season and carries a 13-game winning streak at home, including three games hosting the 2025 CUSA Championship.
Liberty (10-2-1, .808) is on pace for one of its best seasons in program history. Under head coach Lang Wedemeyer, the Lady Flames' best season was in 2023, when Liberty compiled a 16-3-1 (.825) record on the way to its first CUSA Championship title. The team's only previous ranking was in 2024, when it was ranked No. 24 after topping No. 21 Virginia Tech on the road.
The United Soccer Coaches/IWSOC Coaches Poll is released every Tuesday during the regular season and is an indicator of the week-to-week status of qualified programs. It is not considered a guide or indicator of eligibility for championship selection. To be eligible for consideration in the United Soccer Coaches/IWSOC Coaches Poll, a school must be a member of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program.
No. 23 Liberty (11-2-1, 4-0-0) hits the road for a single game this week, matching up against Kennesaw State (5-6-3, 2-2-0 CUSA) on Saturday at 6 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ from Fifth Third Stadium.
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