Liberty University
1-2
Cincinnati
1-1
Second Half Push Lifts Liberty to Home Win Over Cincinnati, 14-10
2/24/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
A strong second half push from Liberty, which included a 9-0 run, lifted the Lady Flames to a 14-10 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Bearcats on Wednesday afternoon at the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
Liberty picks up its first win of 2021 and improves to 1-2 on the season. Cincinnati suffers its first loss, falling to 1-1.
Lady Flames goalkeeper Jennifer Soriero had a career day in net for the home side. The Pompton Plains, N.J., native racked up career highs in ground balls (8) and caused turnovers (6) and recorded 10 saves on the afternoon, her second double-digit save game of the season.
Nine different Liberty players scored in the contest, led by a career-best three goals from Brooke Bryan, who made her first career start on Wednesday. Leah Ruby, Grace Fletcher and Jordan Sheive each scored twice in the victory.
Thoughts From Head Coach Kelly Nangle
"I could not be prouder of our team. We've been walking through some adversity lately, and they have stayed the course. We are building and growing every day and improving with every opportunity we have. This team is special, and I am looking forward to keep watching them grow!"
Scoring Summary
Liberty Goals: Brooke Bryan 3, Leah Ruby 2, Grace Fletcher 2, Jordan Sheive 2, Mia Toscano 1, Mackenzie Lehman 1, Jordan Baerga 1, Morgan Learn 1, Lizzy Ferguson 1
Liberty Assists: Tori Banks 1, Olivia Glaze 1, Mia Toscano 1
Cincinnati Goals: Monica Borzillo 4, Kylie Nause 2, Alyssa Adams 2, Julie Rose 1, Peyton Mottice 1
Cincinnati Assists: Monica Borzillo 1, Taylor Gysin 1, Sam Mlkvy 1, Gianna Napoletano 1
Goalkeepers
W: Jennifer Soriero 1-2, 10 saves
L: Kate Brocato 1-1, 12 saves
Turning Point
Liberty's nine-goal run began with a Brooke Bryan goal with 25:16 to play, evening the score at 6-6. It was capped off by a highlight-reel goal from freshman Mackenzie Lehman with 8:39 left, making it 14-6. Fellow freshman midfielder Olivia Glaze, making her first career start, notched her first career assist on Lehman's goal.
During the early part of the run, the Lady Flames received four free-position goals, including the go-ahead goal from Jordan Baerga (24:19) and subsequent free-position tallies from Fletcher (21:33), Sheive) and Mia Toscano (19:37). Toscano's fourth goal of the season pushed the Liberty advantage to 11-6. Also during the run, midfielder Tori Banks picked up her first career assist on Bryan's third goal of the contest, and midfielder Lizzy Ferguson scored for the first time this season (11:22).
First Half Summary
• Cincinnati led 4-2 through the game's first 25-plus minutes until Liberty closed the opening half with two goals from Leah Ruby. Ruby's second goal came with nine seconds left on the clock and brought the score to 4-4 at intermission.
• The Lady Flames outshot the Bearcats 22-11 in the opening frame, but Cincinnati netminder Kate Brocato made 10 stops. Liberty's Soriero also played a solid first half with five saves, four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
Second Half Summary
• Soriero elevated her play even more in the second half with five more saves, four ground balls and four caused turnovers. The goalkeeper made several key saves and interceptions, thwarting off Bearcat scoring chances.
• Liberty went a perfect 5-of-5 on free-position shots in the second stanza.
• With the Lady Flames leading 14-6, Cincinnati scored the final four goals of the contest over the last 6:58, including the game-high fourth of the day from Monica Borzillo. The Bearcats' final scoring chance came with a second to play, but Soriero stopped Julie Rose's shot to put her at 10 saves.
Key Stats & Notes
• Liberty outshot Cincinnati 36-24 and held advantages in ground balls (28-22) and clearing percentage (.800-.786). The Lady Flames, who entered the day leading the nation in caused turnovers per game (20.50), had a 19-12 advantage over the Bearcats in that category today.
• ASUN Defensive Player of the Week Sarah Steenson added three more caused turnovers and three ground balls in the game.
• This is Liberty's first victory over Cincinnati in what was the third-ever meeting between the two programs. Prior to today, the teams had not faced each other since March 14, 2013.
• Cincinnati held a 12-10 edge in draw controls. Lady Flames freshman Katelyn Weissend recorded her first three career draw controls in the contest to share the team lead with Toscano.
• Wednesday marked Liberty's first outdoor home game of the season. The Lady Flames hosted No. 18 Virginia Tech in their season opener, Feb. 12 in the Indoor Practice Facility on campus.
Up Next
• Liberty will head on the road for a showdown against the Furman Paladins (0-2). First draw is set for noon, Saturday at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, S.C.
• The Lady Flames are 2-0 all-time against the Paladins. The two squads last met on Feb. 19, 2020, a 16-9 Liberty triumph in Lynchburg.
Check out this ???????????? no-look twizzler goal from ???????????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???????????? in this afternoon's victory over Cincinnati!??#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/sTsuwByVBk
— Liberty Lacrosse (@LibertyWLAX) February 24, 2021
