Saturday, April 11
Lynchburg, Va.
11:00 AM ET
Liberty University
5-9, 3-2
17
vs
4
Kennesaw State
7-8, 2-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennesaw St. | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Liberty | 5 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 17 |
Lacrosse Celebrates Senior Day with 17-4 Home Triumph over Kennesaw State
4/11/2026 5:52:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty (5-9, 3-2 ASUN) secured a crucial conference victory, upending Kennesaw State (7-8, 2-4 ASUN) 17-4 at home on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. The victory marked the Lady Flames' first home triumph of the season.
Prior to the game, Liberty recognized 12 of the following members of its 2026 senior class: Karlie Hickson, Kendall Nye, Riley Phillips, Kate Troutman, Kendall Coss, Katie Colavito, Amelia Loughery, Ava Rajala, Jenna Burrow, Delaney Donohue, Allie Rhoades and Madeleine Klunder.
The Lady Flames' offense was highlighted by scoring seven goals in the second quarter. Liberty jumped ahead to a 4-0 lead, capped off with defender Madeleine Klunder's first career goal, scoring off forcing a turnover in the offensive zone.
Katie Colavito led the scoring effort with five goals, including a game-winning shot, and two woman-up goals. Ava Rajala contributed significantly with three goals and an assist, converting all four of her shots on goal. Fayedra Vang was efficient in her play, scoring two goals on four shots, all on target. Sophia Nesci added to the offensive strength with three goals and two assists, demonstrating effective playmaking throughout the game.
Liberty secures a 3-2 record in ASUN play with just three league games remaining. The Lady Flames were 0-8 at home entering Saturday's contest. Liberty improves to 9-0 all-time against the Owls.
Liberty Goals: Katie Colavito 5 ; Ava Rajala 3 ; Sophia Nesci 3 ; Fayedra Vang 2 ; Olivia Young 2 ; Amelia Loughery 1 ; Madeleine Klunder 1 .
Liberty Assists: Sophia Nesci 2 ; Amelia Loughery 1 ; Ava Rajala 1
Kennesaw State Goals: Marleigh Belinfanti 2 ; Natalie Charyak 1 ; Lexi Tinker 1
Kennesaw State Assists: Lauren Dobbs 2 ; Caleigh Shore 1
Liberty Goalkeeper: Rachel Hines (5-9), six saves, four goals, 17 shots faced
Kennesaw State Goalkeepers: Cybella Smith (6-4), 47:01, eight saves, 13 goals, 28 shots faced
Roxy Surridge, 12:59, three saves, four goals, nine shots faced
First Quarter Liberty 5, Kennesaw State 2
The game began with Liberty capitalizing on a turnover when Katie Colavito scored the first goal at 8:56, with an assist from Sophia Nesci. Liberty continued to dominate with goals from Nesci and Rajala, extending its lead. The Owls briefly interrupted Liberty's run with a goal by Marleigh Belinfanti. However, Liberty responded swiftly as Madeleine Klunder scored at 5:13, solidifying its advantage.
Second Quarter Liberty 12, Kennesaw State 3
Liberty dominated the second quarter, starting with a quick goal by Colavito just 25 seconds in. Rajala and Nesci followed with goals, both capitalizing on free position opportunities. Fayedra Vang contributed two goals, including one at the halftime buzzer, as Liberty scored five consecutive times to assert control. Despite a late goal by the Owls' Marleigh Belinfanti, Liberty ended the quarter with a commanding 12-3 lead.
Third Quarter Liberty 13, Kennesaw State 4
Liberty maintained control with consistent defensive pressure, including turnovers caused by Jenna Burrow and three from Nicole Arriola, limiting the Owls' opportunities. Despite the Owls' goal by Natalie Charyak at 6:58, Liberty's defensive efforts and ball control, highlighted by multiple ground ball pickups and clears, kept the score balanced in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter Liberty 17, Kennesaw State 4
Liberty began the fourth quarter with a strong offensive play, as Colavito scored a woman-up goal just 21 seconds in. Rajala cashed in during a woman-down situation with another goal at 12:02, extending Liberty's lead. Nesci later scored at 5:53, contributing to Liberty's momentum. With Liberty maintaining pressure, Olivia Young added a goal with just 24 seconds remaining to seal the quarter. Liberty outscored the Owls 4-0 in the final quarter, concluding the game with a decisive 17-4 victory.
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
Liberty (5-9, 3-2 ASUN) eyes a critical road trip with a pair of ASUN matchups. The Lady Flames take on Coastal Carolina (9-6, 2-4 ASUN) on Thursday at 1 p.m. and challenge Queens (3-10, 3-3 ASUN) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Prior to the game, Liberty recognized 12 of the following members of its 2026 senior class: Karlie Hickson, Kendall Nye, Riley Phillips, Kate Troutman, Kendall Coss, Katie Colavito, Amelia Loughery, Ava Rajala, Jenna Burrow, Delaney Donohue, Allie Rhoades and Madeleine Klunder.
The Lady Flames' offense was highlighted by scoring seven goals in the second quarter. Liberty jumped ahead to a 4-0 lead, capped off with defender Madeleine Klunder's first career goal, scoring off forcing a turnover in the offensive zone.
Katie Colavito led the scoring effort with five goals, including a game-winning shot, and two woman-up goals. Ava Rajala contributed significantly with three goals and an assist, converting all four of her shots on goal. Fayedra Vang was efficient in her play, scoring two goals on four shots, all on target. Sophia Nesci added to the offensive strength with three goals and two assists, demonstrating effective playmaking throughout the game.
Liberty secures a 3-2 record in ASUN play with just three league games remaining. The Lady Flames were 0-8 at home entering Saturday's contest. Liberty improves to 9-0 all-time against the Owls.
Liberty Goals: Katie Colavito 5 ; Ava Rajala 3 ; Sophia Nesci 3 ; Fayedra Vang 2 ; Olivia Young 2 ; Amelia Loughery 1 ; Madeleine Klunder 1 .
Liberty Assists: Sophia Nesci 2 ; Amelia Loughery 1 ; Ava Rajala 1
Kennesaw State Goals: Marleigh Belinfanti 2 ; Natalie Charyak 1 ; Lexi Tinker 1
Kennesaw State Assists: Lauren Dobbs 2 ; Caleigh Shore 1
Liberty Goalkeeper: Rachel Hines (5-9), six saves, four goals, 17 shots faced
Kennesaw State Goalkeepers: Cybella Smith (6-4), 47:01, eight saves, 13 goals, 28 shots faced
Roxy Surridge, 12:59, three saves, four goals, nine shots faced
First Quarter Liberty 5, Kennesaw State 2
The game began with Liberty capitalizing on a turnover when Katie Colavito scored the first goal at 8:56, with an assist from Sophia Nesci. Liberty continued to dominate with goals from Nesci and Rajala, extending its lead. The Owls briefly interrupted Liberty's run with a goal by Marleigh Belinfanti. However, Liberty responded swiftly as Madeleine Klunder scored at 5:13, solidifying its advantage.
Second Quarter Liberty 12, Kennesaw State 3
Liberty dominated the second quarter, starting with a quick goal by Colavito just 25 seconds in. Rajala and Nesci followed with goals, both capitalizing on free position opportunities. Fayedra Vang contributed two goals, including one at the halftime buzzer, as Liberty scored five consecutive times to assert control. Despite a late goal by the Owls' Marleigh Belinfanti, Liberty ended the quarter with a commanding 12-3 lead.
Third Quarter Liberty 13, Kennesaw State 4
Liberty maintained control with consistent defensive pressure, including turnovers caused by Jenna Burrow and three from Nicole Arriola, limiting the Owls' opportunities. Despite the Owls' goal by Natalie Charyak at 6:58, Liberty's defensive efforts and ball control, highlighted by multiple ground ball pickups and clears, kept the score balanced in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter Liberty 17, Kennesaw State 4
Liberty began the fourth quarter with a strong offensive play, as Colavito scored a woman-up goal just 21 seconds in. Rajala cashed in during a woman-down situation with another goal at 12:02, extending Liberty's lead. Nesci later scored at 5:53, contributing to Liberty's momentum. With Liberty maintaining pressure, Olivia Young added a goal with just 24 seconds remaining to seal the quarter. Liberty outscored the Owls 4-0 in the final quarter, concluding the game with a decisive 17-4 victory.
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty outshot Kennesaw 37-17 with a 28-10 edge in shots on goal.
- Colavito's five-goal output on Monday was her fifth instance this season of scoring at least four times. She ranks second on the team with 28 goals.
- The midfielder
- Colavito and Nesci (3g, 2a) are tied for the team lead with 33 goals this season.
- Nesci leads the team with 50 points (33g, 17a). She currently ranks No. 2 all-time among Liberty freshmen in scoring in both goals and points. She trails Katy Pridemore (2015) with 52 goals and 68 points.
- The Lady Flames recorded 20 caused turnovers to 11 from Kennesaw State. Nicole Arriola and Colavito each recorded three. Colavito leads the team with 30 this spring.
- Colavito (113) and Klunder (109) now rank No. 2 and No. 3 in program history in career caused turnovers.
- Liberty earned 26 ground balls, including a game-high four from Arriola.
- Olivia Young has scored in eight consecutive contests.
- With eight draw controls, Ava Menna now slots second all-time in program history with 236 career draw wins. She trails current assistant coach, Lizzy Ferguson (2019-23) with 288.
- With six saves, Rachel Hines (5-9) improved her season averages to a 12.36 goals-against average and a .418 save percentage.
Up Next
Liberty (5-9, 3-2 ASUN) eyes a critical road trip with a pair of ASUN matchups. The Lady Flames take on Coastal Carolina (9-6, 2-4 ASUN) on Thursday at 1 p.m. and challenge Queens (3-10, 3-3 ASUN) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
KENNESAW
LIBERTY
Shots
17
37
Turnovers
30
20
Caused Turnovers
11
20
Draw Controls
10
11
Free-Position Shots
3
7
Ground Balls
19
26
Game Leaders
G
5
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
3
G
3
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-120
GB
3
CT
3
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
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