Saturday, August 29
Orono, Maine
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(1-1)
2
vs
3
UMass
(1-0)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
No. 8 Lady Flames Fall 3-2 to No. 15 Minutewomen, Saturday Afternoon
8/29/2026 2:45:00 PM | Field Hockey
ORONO, MAINE – The No. 8 Liberty Lady Flames field hockey team fell 3-2 to the No. 15 UMass Minutewomen, Saturday afternoon in a neutral site match at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
Liberty led 2-1 with under 20 minutes remaining, but the UMass scored twice in the final 19:13, including the game winner in the final three minutes, to claim the victory.
The Lady Flames drop to 1-1 after suffering their first loss of 2026. The Minutewomen improve to 1-0 after winning their season opener.
Liberty's Teshawn De La Rey and Luna Prieri provided the goals for the Lady Flames. De La Rey's was the first of her collegiate career. Prieri's goal was her second of the year, tied for most among Liberty players through two contests.
Scoring Summary
21' – UMASS – Emily Barrett (Sophia Ponzini)
30' – LIBERTY – Teshawn De La Rey (Dara Semmartin) | Penalty Corner
33' – LIBERTY – Luna Prieri (unassisted)
41' – UMASS – Niamh McKenzie (unassisted)
58' – UMASS – Niamh McKenzie (Isla Campbell)
Goalkeepers
W: Diane Saint Martin 1-1, two saves
L: Rozárie Mrázová 1-0, two saves
Turning Point
Liberty trailed 1-0 in the latter stages of the second quarter but converted on its third penalty corner of the game to even it up at 1-all at the break. The Lady Flames earned the corner with six seconds to play. Dara Semmartin found Teshawn De La Rey near the left post, who put a shot past UMass goalkeeper Rozárie Mrázová for her first collegiate goal with no time remaining in the half.
The Lady Flames carried over the momentum into the third quarter, scoring a go-ahead goal in the 33rd minute. Clarisa Iudicello entered the circle and sent a cross pass to the center that deflected off a UMass defender's stick. Liberty senior Luna Prieri gathered the loose ball and fired a reverse shot into the right cage for a 2-1 lead at the 32:45 mark.
The Minutewomen evened the game at 2-2 later in the third quarter, with Niamh McKenzie scoring the equalizer. Her blast hit off a Liberty defender's stick and trickled past goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin.
With under three minutes to play in regulation, UMass capitalized on a transition opportunity, with McKenzie scoring from in front of the goal on a feed from Isla Campbell with 2:38 left in regulation (57:22 mark). Liberty pulled goalkeeper Saint Martin looking to tie it, but the Lady Flames did not attempt a shot or earn a penalty corner in the closing minutes.
Key Stats & Notes
No. 8 Liberty will return to action on Friday at Saint Joseph's (1-0). Match time is 3 p.m. at Ellen Ryan Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Lady Flames are 3-1 all-time versus the Hawks. Liberty topped Saint Joseph's 2-1 last year in Lynchburg in the most recent meeting.
Liberty led 2-1 with under 20 minutes remaining, but the UMass scored twice in the final 19:13, including the game winner in the final three minutes, to claim the victory.
The Lady Flames drop to 1-1 after suffering their first loss of 2026. The Minutewomen improve to 1-0 after winning their season opener.
Liberty's Teshawn De La Rey and Luna Prieri provided the goals for the Lady Flames. De La Rey's was the first of her collegiate career. Prieri's goal was her second of the year, tied for most among Liberty players through two contests.
Scoring Summary
21' – UMASS – Emily Barrett (Sophia Ponzini)
30' – LIBERTY – Teshawn De La Rey (Dara Semmartin) | Penalty Corner
33' – LIBERTY – Luna Prieri (unassisted)
41' – UMASS – Niamh McKenzie (unassisted)
58' – UMASS – Niamh McKenzie (Isla Campbell)
Goalkeepers
W: Diane Saint Martin 1-1, two saves
L: Rozárie Mrázová 1-0, two saves
Turning Point
Liberty trailed 1-0 in the latter stages of the second quarter but converted on its third penalty corner of the game to even it up at 1-all at the break. The Lady Flames earned the corner with six seconds to play. Dara Semmartin found Teshawn De La Rey near the left post, who put a shot past UMass goalkeeper Rozárie Mrázová for her first collegiate goal with no time remaining in the half.
The Lady Flames carried over the momentum into the third quarter, scoring a go-ahead goal in the 33rd minute. Clarisa Iudicello entered the circle and sent a cross pass to the center that deflected off a UMass defender's stick. Liberty senior Luna Prieri gathered the loose ball and fired a reverse shot into the right cage for a 2-1 lead at the 32:45 mark.
The Minutewomen evened the game at 2-2 later in the third quarter, with Niamh McKenzie scoring the equalizer. Her blast hit off a Liberty defender's stick and trickled past goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin.
With under three minutes to play in regulation, UMass capitalized on a transition opportunity, with McKenzie scoring from in front of the goal on a feed from Isla Campbell with 2:38 left in regulation (57:22 mark). Liberty pulled goalkeeper Saint Martin looking to tie it, but the Lady Flames did not attempt a shot or earn a penalty corner in the closing minutes.
Key Stats & Notes
- UMass held a 10-6 edge in total shots and 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Liberty led 3-2 in penalty corners, with all three coming in the second quarter.
- Prieri has two goals in two games this year. This is the first time in her Lady Flames career she has scored in back-to-back games. In 2024 with Longwood, she scored four goals in a two-game span (three vs. Queens, one vs. Richmond).
- Prieri and Semmartin share the team lead with two goals through two matches.
- This was the first-ever meeting between Liberty and UMass in field hockey.
- Prieri and Teshawn De La Rey led Liberty with two shots apiece.
- The Lady Flames' Kyleigh Faust made a defensive save.
- Liberty's loss is its first in a regular season contest since falling 1-0 at No. 3 Virginia on Oct. 14, 2025. The Lady Flames had won six straight regular season games dating back to last year.
- The Lady Flames' Kyleigh Faust made a defensive save.
No. 8 Liberty will return to action on Friday at Saint Joseph's (1-0). Match time is 3 p.m. at Ellen Ryan Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Lady Flames are 3-1 all-time versus the Hawks. Liberty topped Saint Joseph's 2-1 last year in Lynchburg in the most recent meeting.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Field Hockey
D/M
/ Field Hockey
M/F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
D
/ Field HockeyTeam Stats
MASSACHU
LIBERTY
Goals
3
2
Shots
10
6
Shots on Goal
6
4
Saves
2
2
Corners
2
3
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
20
16
Scoring Plays
Emily Barrett (1)
Assisted By: Fiene Jenniskens , Sophia Ponzini
GOAL by Massachusetts Emily Barrett (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Fiene Jenniskens and Sophia Ponzini, goal number 1 for season.
20:43
Teshawn De La Rey
Assisted By: Dara Semmartin
GOAL by Liberty Teshawn De La Rey, Assist by Dara Semmartin
30:00
Luna Prieri
GOAL by Liberty Luna Prieri
32:45
Niamh McKenzie
GOAL by Massachusetts Niamh McKenzie
40:47
Niamh McKenzie (238)
Assisted By: Isla Campbell
GOAL by Massachusetts Niamh McKenzie, Assist by Isla Campbell, goal number 0238 for season.
57:22
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
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