Saturday, November 14
Greensboro, N.C.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
8-7-3, 3-3-0
1
at
0
UNCG
7-3-9, 2-0-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UNC Greensboro | 0 | 0 | 0 |
11/14/2026 9:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Behind smothering defense and a goal by Samson Kpardeh, the No. 5 seed Liberty Flames topped the No. 3 seed UNCG Spartans 1-0 to capture the Southern Conference title on Saturday evening in the conference championship match at UNCG Soccer Complex.
The Flames secured the SoCon Championship in their first season in the conference, prevailing in three consecutive road matches. In addition, Liberty wins its first conference championship since 2011.
Defensively, the Flames held the host Spartans to only six shots and one on goal in the match.
Despite several quality chances earlier in the game, it took SoCon Tournament MVP Samson Kpardeh to give the Flames the lead, scoring off an outstanding feed into the 18-yard box by midfielder Ronnie Gorman during the 70th minute.
Liberty claims the SoCon automatic bid and moves to 8-7-3 this season. UNCG drops to 7-3-9 on the year.
Scoring Summary
70' – Samson Kpardeh (Assisted by Ronnie Gorman and Lachlan Middleton)
Key Stats & Notes
Next Up
Liberty will find out who they will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this upcoming Thursday when the field is announced during the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Selection on Monday. The selection show is scheduled for 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.
The Flames secured the SoCon Championship in their first season in the conference, prevailing in three consecutive road matches. In addition, Liberty wins its first conference championship since 2011.
Defensively, the Flames held the host Spartans to only six shots and one on goal in the match.
Despite several quality chances earlier in the game, it took SoCon Tournament MVP Samson Kpardeh to give the Flames the lead, scoring off an outstanding feed into the 18-yard box by midfielder Ronnie Gorman during the 70th minute.
Liberty claims the SoCon automatic bid and moves to 8-7-3 this season. UNCG drops to 7-3-9 on the year.
Scoring Summary
70' – Samson Kpardeh (Assisted by Ronnie Gorman and Lachlan Middleton)
Key Stats & Notes
- The Flames controlled play for most of the game. Liberty outshot UNCG, 19-6. The Flames had six shots on goal, while the Spartans were held to one shot on goal.
- Liberty had an 8-6 advantage over UNCG in corner kicks, 8-6.
- The Flames handed the Spartans only their second loss of the season at home. UNCG entered the match with a 5-1-4 mark at home in 2026.
- Kpardeh scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season. The SoCon Championship MVP and All-Conference first-team forward scored three goals during Liberty's three-game run to the conference title.
- Kpardeh has scored 10 goals in 10 games played this season.
- Gorman and Lachlan Middleton each had an assist on Kpardeh's goal. Gorman leads the Flames with six assists on the season. Middleton recorded his first assist of the year.
- Liberty goalkeeper Dan Rose made one save in the match. UNCG goalkeeper Seth Wilson recorded five saves.
- Defenders Roope Salo and Oscar Vallejo and midfielder Lachlan Middleton joined Kpardeh on the SoCon All-Tournament team.
- The Flames won their first conference championship since defeating Gardner-Webb 3-1 in the Big South Championship on Nov. 13, 2011. With its victory this evening, Liberty will appear in its first NCAA Tournament in 15 years.
- This evening, Liberty was appearing in its first conference title game since 2013, when Liberty fell to Coastal Carolina 2-0 in the Big South Championship match on Nov. 17, 2013.
Next Up
Liberty will find out who they will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this upcoming Thursday when the field is announced during the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Selection on Monday. The selection show is scheduled for 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.
FIRST STRIKE IN THE FINAL. ?? ??: @ESPNPlus https://t.co/XYV8L55CoC
— Liberty Men's Soccer (@LibertyMSoccer) November 15, 2026
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerTeam Stats
LIB
UNCG
Goals
1
0
Shots
19
6
Shots on Goal
6
1
Saves
1
5
Corners
8
5
Fouls
10
4
Scoring Plays
Samson Kpardeh (10)
Assisted By: Ronnie Gorman , Lachlan Middleton
GOAL by LIB Kpardeh, Samson Assist by Gorman, Ronnie and Middleton, Lachlan.
69:38
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Thursday, November 12
Saturday, October 31
Wednesday, September 30
Sunday, September 27