Tuesday, November 10
Newark, Del.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
15-2-3, 7-0-1
1
vs
1
New Mexico State
5-11-4, 3-4-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico St. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Liberty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
11/11/2026 12:42:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NEWARK, Del. – No. 1 Liberty (15-2-3) held on for a 1-1 (4-3 PKs) triumph over No. 5 New Mexico State (5-11-4) with Halle Engle netting the game-sealing tally to send Liberty to its fourth consecutive Conference USA title game. Avery Paulson scored in regulation on Tuesday night with penalties scored by Maddyson Kerley, Isabella Wedemeyer, Sallie Garner and Engle.
No. 1 Liberty will take on No. 2 Western Kentucky (13-1-6) in the Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship game on Friday at noon. The game at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with tickets available at BlueHens.com.
Liberty opened the scoring in the 13th minute from Avery Paulson. Haley Noblit forced a turnover in the Aggies' end, she immediately received the throw in back from Margaret Garner and sent a cross to the far end of the goal. The pass bounced through the penalty area as Paulson sprung from behind a defender to deflect the ball to the back of the net. The score was Paulson's first of the season.
Not fading away, the physical Aggies pushed back and made things difficult for the Lady Flames. New Mexico State evened the game off a penalty kick from Marlee Cavitt in the 73rd minute.
Liberty pressed back down on the gas, unleashing multiple attempts on a game-winner. Liberty outshot New Mexico State 14-5 in the second half/OT and 7-1 in corner kicks. The Lady Flames were ultimately unable to push through the Aggies and goalkeeper Karolanne Lafortune in regulation or overtime.
The tilt came down to the goalkeepers Ainsley Leja and LaFortune. Both keepers made their first saves. Leja then made a second straight save, with help from the post. Each team traded goals until the CUSA Player of the Year came up fifth in the order. The forward went left and Lafortune went right as Liberty advanced to Friday's final.
Scoring Summary
13' – Liberty – Avery Paulson (1) – Haley Noblit
73' – New Mexico State – Marlee Cavitt (1) (penalty)
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
No. 1 Liberty (15-2-3) will take on No. 2 Western Kentucky (13-1-6) in the Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship game on Friday at noon. The game at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with tickets available at BlueHens.com.
No. 1 Liberty will take on No. 2 Western Kentucky (13-1-6) in the Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship game on Friday at noon. The game at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with tickets available at BlueHens.com.
Liberty opened the scoring in the 13th minute from Avery Paulson. Haley Noblit forced a turnover in the Aggies' end, she immediately received the throw in back from Margaret Garner and sent a cross to the far end of the goal. The pass bounced through the penalty area as Paulson sprung from behind a defender to deflect the ball to the back of the net. The score was Paulson's first of the season.
Paulson opens scoring in the semifinal ?? ??: @ESPNPlus https://t.co/AuuUlbl2sx
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) November 11, 2026
Not fading away, the physical Aggies pushed back and made things difficult for the Lady Flames. New Mexico State evened the game off a penalty kick from Marlee Cavitt in the 73rd minute.
Liberty pressed back down on the gas, unleashing multiple attempts on a game-winner. Liberty outshot New Mexico State 14-5 in the second half/OT and 7-1 in corner kicks. The Lady Flames were ultimately unable to push through the Aggies and goalkeeper Karolanne Lafortune in regulation or overtime.
The tilt came down to the goalkeepers Ainsley Leja and LaFortune. Both keepers made their first saves. Leja then made a second straight save, with help from the post. Each team traded goals until the CUSA Player of the Year came up fifth in the order. The forward went left and Lafortune went right as Liberty advanced to Friday's final.
ICYMI https://t.co/QQmd52TQum
— Liberty Women's Soccer (@LibertyWSoccer) November 11, 2026
Scoring Summary
13' – Liberty – Avery Paulson (1) – Haley Noblit
73' – New Mexico State – Marlee Cavitt (1) (penalty)
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty has reached the CUSA title game in each of its four years in Conference USA. The Lady Flames eye a second consecutive championship and their third in four years.
- The team extends its unbeaten streak to 15 games (13-0-2). Its last loss this season was a 2-0 loss at Pitt (Aug. 27).
- The Lady Flames carry a 25-game unbeaten streak against CUSA opponents. Its last regular-season loss was against FIU on Sept. 27, 2024. The stretch currently ranks as the fifth-longest among Division l programs.
- Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (13-1-3) now sports a 0.51 goals-against average and a .847 save percentage. She made two saves.
- Including Leja, five Lady Flames, Sallie Garner, Maddyson Kerley, Lauren Littleton and Haley Noblit, played over 100 minutes in the contest.
- It was the first penalty shootout for the Lady Flames since the 2022 Atlantic Sun final hosting FGCU. Liberty fell 1-1 in penalties 4-3.
- Engle led all players with 5 shots, with four on goal.
Up Next
No. 1 Liberty (15-2-3) will take on No. 2 Western Kentucky (13-1-6) in the Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship game on Friday at noon. The game at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with tickets available at BlueHens.com.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerTeam Stats
NMS
LIBU
Goals
1
1
Shots
6
19
Shots on Goal
3
10
Saves
9
2
Corners
1
8
Fouls
10
8
Scoring Plays
Avery Paulson (1)
Assisted By: Haley Noblit
GOAL by LIBU Paulson, Avery Assist by Noblit, Haley.
12:15
Marlee Cavitt
NMS Marlee Cavitt PENALTY KICK GOAL.
72:13
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Wednesday, November 04
Monday, November 02
Wednesday, October 14
Saturday, September 26