Ainsley Leja

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
5-6
Hometown:
Rockford, Mich.
Position:
GK
Prev School:
Rockford High School

2024 (Sr.)

Utilized redshirt season
Named a United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch – Goalkeeper, for the second straight season
Selected to the 2024 Conference USA All-Conference preseason team
Included on CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll

2023 (Jr.)

Named the 2023 Conference USA Keeper of the Year along with the CUSA All-Conference first team honors
Selected to United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team
Included on the 2023 CUSA All-Academic team
Recognized on the 2023 CSC Academic All-District Women’s Soccer team
Achieved a program-record 0.60 goals-against average in a single season, besting her own record and placing her first in CUSA and No. 15 in the nation in goals-against average.
Started all 20 games, logging 1,800 minutes while allowing just 12 goals
Her 10 recorded shutouts led the CUSA and was 14^th in the country. The mark is tied for the second-highest mark in program history for a single season
Recorded 10 shutouts for the second consecutive year
Finished the year with a 16-3-1 record, totaling 58 saves and a .829 save percentage
Did not allow a goal over 550:47 spanning seven games from Sept. 3 – Sept. 30
Made a career-high nine saves in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship first round game against Georgia
Recorded first career assist against UNCW on Aug. 27
Named the four-time CUSA keeper of the week, pacing CUSA (Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Sept. 5, Sept. 26)
Selected to the CUSA Women’s Soccer pre-season team
Recognized as a United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch- Goalkeepers, prior to the season
Included on CUSA Academic Honor Roll

2022 (So.)

Started all 21 games
Selected to United Soccer Coaches All-South Region second team
Named the 2022 Atlantic SUN Goalkeeper of the Year along with all-conference first team honors
Recognized on the CoSIDA Academic All-District team
Logged over 1864 minutes, allowing just 13 goals
Finished the year with a 14-3-4 record, totaling 56 saves and a .812 save percentage
Achieved a program-record 0.62 goals-against average for the season, placing her third in the ASUN and 20^th in nation in goals-against average
Her 10 recorded shutouts led the ASUN and was 13^th in the country
The 10 shutouts were the second highest mark in program history for a single season
Recorded first career shutout in a 0-0 tie at Appalachian State (8/18)
Did not allow a goal over 421:44 spanning five games from Sept. 15 – Oct. 2
Made a career-high six saves in the ASUN Championship game against FGCU
Included on ASUN Academic Honor Roll

2021 (Fr.)

Played in two matches at Tennessee Tech and against North Alabama
Did not allow a goal in 61 minutes of playing time

Prep

A three-time U.S. National Training invitee
Played for Midwest United FC where she was posted a 91-14-11 record throughout her time with the club, which ranked No. 5 in the nation from 2017-20
A three-time State Champion from 2018-20 and was a part of the Mid-America Regional Champions Academy in 2019 and 2020

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
The facilities are better than most power 5 school facilities. The culture of the team and what the school stands for attracted me.

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I have a specific game day routine, putting my cleats and gloves on in a specific order.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
When we won the Conference USA tournament and when we played Georgia in the NCAA tournament.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My brother, Danny Leja, was on the Liberty track team.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
Salmon bowls with avocado, corn, sweet potatoes, rice, and beans.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
The Weather app is what I open first every day.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
Wake surfing is something I really enjoy.

Do you have any current pets (name and type of animal)?
I have an Australian Labradoodle named Burton.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Hope Solo.

What is your Go-To karaoke song?
Love Story by Taylor Swift.

What is your dream vacation spot and why?
Bora Bora because of the water color.