Liberty Hosts No. 14 Notre Dame in Monday Matchup

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty lacrosse team (4-8) takes on a second challenging non-conference foe when it welcomes No. 14 Notre Dame (10-3) to Lynchburg on Monday at 1 p.m. The Monday afternoon contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ from the LU Lacrosse Field.

Liberty looks to respond from a disappointing 9-8 loss at USF in a 2OT thriller. The loss marked Liberty's second overtime defeat of the season, including a narrow 12-11 (OT) loss to Stetson. Goalkeeper Rachel Hines starred in Florida with a career-high 17 saves recorded.

The Lady Flames aim for their first victory against the Fighting Irish in their seventh all-time meeting. The two last met in 2024 with Notre Dame securing a 12-5 road triumph.
Liberty seeks its first home win of the season. The Lady Flames have hosted three ranked opponents (No. 8 Johns Hopkins, No. 24 Virginia and No. 25 Richmond) at home this spring, along with powerhouse lacrosse programs in JMU and Jacksonville.

Lady Flames News & Notes

Nesci leads Liberty with 28 goals and 43 points (second with 13 assists). The Freshman has scored in all but one game this season, including a streak of six straight contests tallying multiple goals (Feb. 28-March 26).
The Syracuse, N.Y. native is currently on pace (3.58 ppg) to break Katy Pridemore's freshman scoring record, which she set in 2015 (52g, 68p, 3.4 ppg). She currently ranks second in program history among freshmen with 43 points and fourth with 43 points.
Nesci capitalizes on free-position opportunities, ranking No. 23 in the country in eight-meter scores per game (.750) and No. 37 nationally converting at a .563 clip (9-of-16).
Katie Colavitio has impressed on all three levels of the field. She leads the team with 23 caused turnovers, is second on the team with 24 goals and 25 ground balls, and she is third on the squad with 24 draw controls.
Goalkeeper Rachel Hines (4-8) continues to impress in the crease this season. She carries a 12.34 goals-against average and a .438 save percentage on 340 shots faced. The junior has also tallied nine caused turnovers and 25 ground balls this season.
Hines ranks No. 6 in the country with 113 saves and No. 9 nationally with 9.42 saves per game.
Liberty leads the country in both caused turnovers per game (15.67) and ranks No. 3 nationally in ground balls per game (20.50)
Madeleine Klunder leads the team with 30 ground balls.
Colavito (106) and Klunder (104) are nearing becoming second in Liberty program history in career caused turnovers. Carly White (108, 2017-21) currently ranks second behind Brianna McCaffrey (147, 2016-19).
Klunder currently ranks fifth in program history with 150 ground balls. She needs three to pass Katherine Widrick (152, 2016-19) for fourth and six to succeed Chloe McIntosh (155, 2010-13).
Liberty has seen split deployment in the draw circle this season. Nina Gray paces the team with 42 draws.
Midfielder Ava Menna ranks No. 3 in program history with 225 career draw controls. She needs nine to pass Brianna McCaffrey (233, 2016-19) for second.

Schedule

Liberty Hosts No. 14 Notre Dame in Monday Matchup

Players Mentioned

Nina Gray

Rachel Hines

Madeleine Klunder

Ava Menna