Garner Selected as the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week
10/6/2026 1:40:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty defender Sallie Garner was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday. Garner helped lead Liberty to a pair of CUSA road victories at Middle Tennessee State and New Mexico State.
The Fifth-Year receives her first-ever CUSA Player of the Week honor. Garner has previously been recognized as a first-team CUSA All-Conference defender in 2024. She represents the third Player of the Week honoree for the Lady Flames this season (Ainsley Leja, Sept. 15, Avenley Monteith, Sept. 29). Liberty is the second CUSA team, alongside Western Kentucky, with multiple CUSA Defensive Player of the Week selections this season.
Garner stepped up for the Lady Flames last Thursday against MTSU in the absence of the 2025 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, Lauren Littleton, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Week, Avenley Monteith. The Liberty defense allowed a single goal in 15 shots and seven on goal from the Blue Raiders.
The Lady Flames then went on to New Mexico State where the back line denied any scoring chances. The Aggies did not register a shot until the 43rd minute of the game and were held without a shot on goal and just five shot attempts.
The victories extended Liberty's winning streak to eight games.
Liberty (10-2-1, 3-0-0 CUSA) returns home to host FIU (4-5-3, 1-2-0 CUSA) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest from Osborne Stadium will be streaming live on ESPN+.
The Fifth-Year receives her first-ever CUSA Player of the Week honor. Garner has previously been recognized as a first-team CUSA All-Conference defender in 2024. She represents the third Player of the Week honoree for the Lady Flames this season (Ainsley Leja, Sept. 15, Avenley Monteith, Sept. 29). Liberty is the second CUSA team, alongside Western Kentucky, with multiple CUSA Defensive Player of the Week selections this season.
Garner stepped up for the Lady Flames last Thursday against MTSU in the absence of the 2025 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, Lauren Littleton, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Week, Avenley Monteith. The Liberty defense allowed a single goal in 15 shots and seven on goal from the Blue Raiders.
The Lady Flames then went on to New Mexico State where the back line denied any scoring chances. The Aggies did not register a shot until the 43rd minute of the game and were held without a shot on goal and just five shot attempts.
The victories extended Liberty's winning streak to eight games.
Liberty (10-2-1, 3-0-0 CUSA) returns home to host FIU (4-5-3, 1-2-0 CUSA) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest from Osborne Stadium will be streaming live on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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