Friday, September 25
Storrs, Conn.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(5-4, 0-1)
2
at
3
Connecticut
(7-1, 2-0)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| UConn | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Mia Santana recorded an assist during Friday's BIG EAST opener at UConn.
No. 14 Liberty Drops BIG EAST Opener at No. 7 UConn, 3-2
9/25/2026 9:12:00 PM | Field Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – No. 7 Connecticut prevailed 3-2 over No. 14 Liberty on Friday night at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.
The Lady Flames fall to 5-4 on the year. Tonight's game was the BIG EAST opener for Liberty (0-1 BIG EAST). The Huskies improve to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. UConn has won four straight games after defeating preseason BIG EAST favorite Liberty tonight.
After Liberty opened an early 1-0 lead, UConn scored the next three goals. The Lady Flames cut the deficit in half with less than a minute to play but ran out of time.
Scoring Summary
6' – LIBERTY – Alexia Guedouar (unassisted)
20' – UCONN – Lene Reiche | Penalty Stroke
27' – UCONN – Lucy Zich (Olivia McKenna)
37' – UCONN – Lucy Zich (Milou Heuker & Charlotte Ritter) | Penalty Corner
60' – LIBERTY – Paris-Gail Isaacs (Mia Santana) | Penalty Corner
Goalkeepers
W: Natalie McKenna 7-1, two saves
L: Diane Saint Martin 5-4, one save
Turning Point
Liberty scored the opening goal of the contest, as freshman Alexia Guedouar struck in the sixth minute for a 1-0 lead for the guests. After Luna Prieri fired a shot that was blocked, Guedouar ripped a forehand strike into the left side of the cage at the 5:35 mark.
Connecticut earned a penalty stroke early in the second quarter (19:36 mark), which Lene Reiche converted on to even the score at 1-1. The Huskies scored the go-ahead goal in the 27th minute. Olivia McKenna sent a ball from outside the circle that was redirected by Lucy Zich into the cage. Early in the second half (36:37 mark), Zich added an insurance goal on a penalty corner, assisted by Milou Heuker and Charlotte Ritter.
Liberty pulled its goalkeeper, Diane Saint Martin, trailing 3-1 with under four minutes to play. With 40 seconds left in regulation, the Lady Flames cut the deficit to 3-2 on a Paris-Gail Isaacs penalty corner tally, assisted by Mia Santana. Liberty ran out of time in its comeback attempt and was unable to manage a shot in the waning seconds.
Key Stats & Notes
No. 14 Liberty will be back in action next Friday against No. 20 Old Dominion (5-2, 0-1 BIG EAST) in its BIG EAST home opener. Match time is 3 p.m. from the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
The Lady Flames edged the Monarchs 1-0 in last year's meeting in Lynchburg (Oct. 3, 2025). Liberty is 11-9 all-time versus ODU.
The Lady Flames fall to 5-4 on the year. Tonight's game was the BIG EAST opener for Liberty (0-1 BIG EAST). The Huskies improve to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. UConn has won four straight games after defeating preseason BIG EAST favorite Liberty tonight.
After Liberty opened an early 1-0 lead, UConn scored the next three goals. The Lady Flames cut the deficit in half with less than a minute to play but ran out of time.
Scoring Summary
6' – LIBERTY – Alexia Guedouar (unassisted)
20' – UCONN – Lene Reiche | Penalty Stroke
27' – UCONN – Lucy Zich (Olivia McKenna)
37' – UCONN – Lucy Zich (Milou Heuker & Charlotte Ritter) | Penalty Corner
60' – LIBERTY – Paris-Gail Isaacs (Mia Santana) | Penalty Corner
Goalkeepers
W: Natalie McKenna 7-1, two saves
L: Diane Saint Martin 5-4, one save
Turning Point
Liberty scored the opening goal of the contest, as freshman Alexia Guedouar struck in the sixth minute for a 1-0 lead for the guests. After Luna Prieri fired a shot that was blocked, Guedouar ripped a forehand strike into the left side of the cage at the 5:35 mark.
Connecticut earned a penalty stroke early in the second quarter (19:36 mark), which Lene Reiche converted on to even the score at 1-1. The Huskies scored the go-ahead goal in the 27th minute. Olivia McKenna sent a ball from outside the circle that was redirected by Lucy Zich into the cage. Early in the second half (36:37 mark), Zich added an insurance goal on a penalty corner, assisted by Milou Heuker and Charlotte Ritter.
Liberty pulled its goalkeeper, Diane Saint Martin, trailing 3-1 with under four minutes to play. With 40 seconds left in regulation, the Lady Flames cut the deficit to 3-2 on a Paris-Gail Isaacs penalty corner tally, assisted by Mia Santana. Liberty ran out of time in its comeback attempt and was unable to manage a shot in the waning seconds.
Key Stats & Notes
- Alexia Guedouar and Paris-Gail Isaacs both scored their second goals of the season tonight.
- Mia Santana notched her fourth assist of the year, tied for most on the squad.
- Both teams attempted eight shots in the match. Connecticut held a 7-4 edge in penalty corners. The Huskies had six of their seven short corners in the second half.
- Friday night's game was a rematch of the 2025 BIG EAST Championship final, a game Liberty won 2-1 in overtime.
- The Huskies improve to 11-8 all-time versus the Flames. Liberty defeated UConn twice last year before the Huskies' triumph tonight.
- Each of the last five meetings between Liberty and UConn have been decided by exactly one goal.
No. 14 Liberty will be back in action next Friday against No. 20 Old Dominion (5-2, 0-1 BIG EAST) in its BIG EAST home opener. Match time is 3 p.m. from the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
The Lady Flames edged the Monarchs 1-0 in last year's meeting in Lynchburg (Oct. 3, 2025). Liberty is 11-9 all-time versus ODU.
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Field Hockey
D/M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyTeam Stats
LIBERTY
UCONN
Goals
2
3
Shots
8
8
Shots on Goal
4
5
Saves
1
2
Corners
4
7
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Alexia Guedouar
GOAL by Liberty Alexia Guedouar (FIRST GOAL)
5:35
Lene Reiche
UConn Lene Reiche PENALTY STROKE GOAL, goal number 0 for season.
19:36
Lucy Zich
Assisted By: Olivia McKenna
GOAL by UConn Lucy Zich, Assist by Olivia McKenna
26:26
Lucy Zich
Assisted By: Milou Heuker , Charlotte Ritter
GOAL by UConn Lucy Zich, Assist by Milou Heuker and Charlotte Ritter
36:37
Paris-Gail Isaacs
Assisted By: Mia Santana
GOAL by Liberty Paris-Gail Isaacs, Assist by Mia Santana
59:20
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
m/f
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Monday, September 21
Thursday, April 16
Tuesday, November 11
Tuesday, November 11