Friday, November 13
Newark, Del.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
16-2-3, 7-0-1
3
vs
1
Western Kentucky
13-2-6, 5-1-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Ky. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 3 | 3 |
11/13/2026 5:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NEWARK, Del. – No. 1 seed Liberty topped No. 2 seed Western Kentucky 3-1 to secure a second consecutive Conference USA Championship title and advance to the 2026 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Lady Flames were lifted by a pair of tallies by Halle Engle and a game-winning goal from Margaret Garner.
Liberty (16-2-3) secures its third CUSA championship title in four seasons, earning both the regular season championship and CUSA Championship title in back-to-back seasons.
The Lady Flames receive the Conference USA automatic bid and await the result of the 2026 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Selection Show on Monday at 4 p.m. The viewing with the team will be open to the public from the third floor of the Carter Tower at Williams Stadium.
Following the game, Halle Engle was named the CUSA Championship Offensive MVP and Maddyson Kerley was named the CUSA Championship Defensive MVP. Two Lady Flames, Margaret Garner and Haley Noblit, were selected to the 2026 CUSA All-Tournament team along with two MVPs.
Western Kentucky jumped ahead, cashing in on a corner attempt from Makenna Egan in the 16th minute. Liberty was outshot 9-7 in the first half as goalkeeper Ainsley Leja made a pair of saves.
Liberty responded with an equalizer from the 2026 CUSA Player of the Year, Halle Engle in the 59th minute. Midfielder Haley Noblit stepped around a WKU defender, lunging to make a centering pass to Engle. The forward expertly placed a shot to the far end of the net to even the contest.
Margaret Garner put her speed on display to register the go-ahead and game-winning goal. Capitalizing on a misplay from a Hilltopper defender, the forward streaked through the back line and made a dash for the penalty area. With a step on her defender, Garner directed the ball to the near side, sliding the goal just in front of the near post.
Minutes later, Engle made a charge into the penalty area and earned a penalty kick when her shot toward goal deflected off an arm for a handball. Engle cashed in her second penalty kick of the tournament to award the Lady Flames a 3-1 lead.
Scoring Summary
16' – Western Kentucky – Makenna Egan
59' – Liberty – Halle Engle (9) – Haley Noblit
76' – Liberty – Margaret Garner (5)
79' – Liberty – Halle Engle (10) – Penalty
Lady Flames News & Notes
Liberty (16-2-3) secures its third CUSA championship title in four seasons, earning both the regular season championship and CUSA Championship title in back-to-back seasons.
BACK-TO-BACK ???? @LibertyWSoccer | @NCAASoccer | #NoLimitsOnUs https://t.co/WeQwVlvgHV
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 13, 2026
The Lady Flames receive the Conference USA automatic bid and await the result of the 2026 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Selection Show on Monday at 4 p.m. The viewing with the team will be open to the public from the third floor of the Carter Tower at Williams Stadium.
Following the game, Halle Engle was named the CUSA Championship Offensive MVP and Maddyson Kerley was named the CUSA Championship Defensive MVP. Two Lady Flames, Margaret Garner and Haley Noblit, were selected to the 2026 CUSA All-Tournament team along with two MVPs.
Western Kentucky jumped ahead, cashing in on a corner attempt from Makenna Egan in the 16th minute. Liberty was outshot 9-7 in the first half as goalkeeper Ainsley Leja made a pair of saves.
Liberty responded with an equalizer from the 2026 CUSA Player of the Year, Halle Engle in the 59th minute. Midfielder Haley Noblit stepped around a WKU defender, lunging to make a centering pass to Engle. The forward expertly placed a shot to the far end of the net to even the contest.
THE EQUALIZER ?? ?? ESPN+ @LibertyWSoccer | #NoLimitsOnUs https://t.co/Biv0nwxumU
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 13, 2026
Margaret Garner put her speed on display to register the go-ahead and game-winning goal. Capitalizing on a misplay from a Hilltopper defender, the forward streaked through the back line and made a dash for the penalty area. With a step on her defender, Garner directed the ball to the near side, sliding the goal just in front of the near post.
Minutes later, Engle made a charge into the penalty area and earned a penalty kick when her shot toward goal deflected off an arm for a handball. Engle cashed in her second penalty kick of the tournament to award the Lady Flames a 3-1 lead.
Margaret Garner gives the Lady Flames the lead in the 76th minute! ?? ?? ESPN+ @LibertyWSoccer | #NoLimitsOnUs https://t.co/UvMmGvcfBz
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 13, 2026
Scoring Summary
16' – Western Kentucky – Makenna Egan
59' – Liberty – Halle Engle (9) – Haley Noblit
76' – Liberty – Margaret Garner (5)
79' – Liberty – Halle Engle (10) – Penalty
Lady Flames News & Notes
- The team extends its unbeaten streak to 16 games (14-0-2). Its last loss this season was a 2-0 loss at Pitt (Aug. 27).
- The Lady Flames carry a 22-game unbeaten streak against CUSA opponents.
- Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (14-1-3) now sports a 0.53 goals-against average and a .844 save percentage. She made four saves in the game against 14 shots.
- Liberty outshot WKU 21-14 with an 11-5 edge in shots on goal.
- Three Lady Flames, Leja, Sallie Garner and Lauren Littleton played a full 90-minute game, with Maddyson Kerley clocking in 89 minutes.
- Engle tied for the CUSA Championship lead with three goals (WKU's Makenna Egan).
- Liberty has won six consecutive CUSA Championship games, winning three at home in 2025 and three this week in Newark, Del.
- Liberty is the first program to repeat as CUSA champions since North Texas in 2018 and 2019.
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 SoccerTeam Stats
WKU
LIB
Goals
1
3
Shots
14
21
Shots on Goal
5
11
Saves
8
4
Corners
3
5
Fouls
12
5
Scoring Plays
Makenna Egan (11)
GOAL by WKU Egan, Makenna.
15:22
Halle Engle (9)
Assisted By: Haley Noblit
GOAL by LIB Engle, Halle Assist by Noblit, Haley.
58:23
Margaret Garner (5)
GOAL by LIB Garner, Margaret.
75:47
Halle Engle (9)
LIB Halle Engle PENALTY KICK GOAL.
78:15
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
8
SOG
6
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Wednesday, November 04
Monday, November 02
Wednesday, October 14
Saturday, September 26