Friday, May 9
Baltimore, Md.
2:00 PM ET
Liberty University
12-8
11
at
21
No. 8 seed Johns Hopkins
13-6
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
1
5
3
2
11
Johns Hopkins
4
3
5
9
21
Second Half Push Lifts No. 8 Seed Johns Hopkins Past Liberty 21-11
5/9/2025 7:36:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
BALTIMORE, Md. – Despite tying the game at 6-6 in the second quarter, Liberty (12-8) was unable to gain a lead, falling, 21-11, at No. 8 seed Johns Hopkins (13-6) in the first round of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship on Friday afternoon.
The Lady Flames caught fire in the second quarter with four straight goals to even the game at 6-6 with 3:35 remaining in the second quarter. Liberty was unable to take a lead and came within as much as two scores with 12:26 left in the fourth quarter.
Cami Merkel (2g, 3a) led Liberty with five points while Taiva Reinertson (3g) added a hat trick. Mackenzie Lehman (2g, 1a) and Kendall Coss (2g) each added a pair. Katie Colavito and freshman Olivia Young added a score.
The Blue Jays pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Liberty 9-2 during the first period.
The Lady Flames' historic 2025 season comes to an end following their first-ever ASUN Championship title and appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Liberty Goals: Taiva Reinertson 3; Cami Merkel 2; Mackenzie Lehman 2; Kendall Coss 2; Katie Colavito 1; Olivia Young 1
Liberty Assists: Cami Merkel 3; Katie Colavito 1; Mackenzie Lehman 1; Ava Rajala 1
Johns Hopkins Goals: Ava Angello 6; Ashley Mackin 6; Lacey Downey 2; Taylor Hoss 2; Laurel Gonzalez 2; Charlotte Smith 1; Reagan O'Brien 1; Megan Kielbasa 1
Johns Hopkins Assists: Campbell Case 6; Ava Angello 3; Samantha DiCarlo 2; Lacey Downey 2; Taylor Hoss 2; Ashley Mackin 1; Charlotte Smith 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: L – Rachel Hines (11-8, 12 saves, 21 goals, 60:00)
Johns Hopkins Goalkeepers: W – Morgan Giardina (11-6, eight saves, 11 goals, 60:00)
Turning Point
With a Taiva Reinertson score at the 3:35 mark of the second quarter, Liberty capped a run of four straight goals to tie the game at 6-6. Johns Hopkins netted a tally from Lacey Downey (2:43) to take a 7-6 lead into halftime.
The Blue Jays began the second half with defender Reagan O'Brien (14:01) scoring her first career goal. Johns Hopkins netted a pair of goals from Laurel Gonzalez (11:14) and Ava Angello (8:39). The Blue Jays regained a 10-6 edge and Liberty could not trim the lead to fewer than two goals the rest of the way.
Mackenzie Lehman attempted a free-position shot down 12-10 in the third quarter that bounced off the crossbar. Johns Hopkins collected the ground ball and secured the next goal before netting another three straight goals to earn a commanding 16-10 lead.
First Half Summary
Second Half Summary
Lady Flames News & Notes
The Lady Flames caught fire in the second quarter with four straight goals to even the game at 6-6 with 3:35 remaining in the second quarter. Liberty was unable to take a lead and came within as much as two scores with 12:26 left in the fourth quarter.
Cami Merkel (2g, 3a) led Liberty with five points while Taiva Reinertson (3g) added a hat trick. Mackenzie Lehman (2g, 1a) and Kendall Coss (2g) each added a pair. Katie Colavito and freshman Olivia Young added a score.
The Blue Jays pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Liberty 9-2 during the first period.
The Lady Flames' historic 2025 season comes to an end following their first-ever ASUN Championship title and appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Liberty Goals: Taiva Reinertson 3; Cami Merkel 2; Mackenzie Lehman 2; Kendall Coss 2; Katie Colavito 1; Olivia Young 1
Liberty Assists: Cami Merkel 3; Katie Colavito 1; Mackenzie Lehman 1; Ava Rajala 1
Johns Hopkins Goals: Ava Angello 6; Ashley Mackin 6; Lacey Downey 2; Taylor Hoss 2; Laurel Gonzalez 2; Charlotte Smith 1; Reagan O'Brien 1; Megan Kielbasa 1
Johns Hopkins Assists: Campbell Case 6; Ava Angello 3; Samantha DiCarlo 2; Lacey Downey 2; Taylor Hoss 2; Ashley Mackin 1; Charlotte Smith 1
Liberty Goalkeepers: L – Rachel Hines (11-8, 12 saves, 21 goals, 60:00)
Johns Hopkins Goalkeepers: W – Morgan Giardina (11-6, eight saves, 11 goals, 60:00)
Turning Point
With a Taiva Reinertson score at the 3:35 mark of the second quarter, Liberty capped a run of four straight goals to tie the game at 6-6. Johns Hopkins netted a tally from Lacey Downey (2:43) to take a 7-6 lead into halftime.
The Blue Jays began the second half with defender Reagan O'Brien (14:01) scoring her first career goal. Johns Hopkins netted a pair of goals from Laurel Gonzalez (11:14) and Ava Angello (8:39). The Blue Jays regained a 10-6 edge and Liberty could not trim the lead to fewer than two goals the rest of the way.
Mackenzie Lehman attempted a free-position shot down 12-10 in the third quarter that bounced off the crossbar. Johns Hopkins collected the ground ball and secured the next goal before netting another three straight goals to earn a commanding 16-10 lead.
First Half Summary
- Johns Hopkins led 7-6 at halftime, holding a 17-12 advantage in shots.
- The Blue Jays opened the game with three straight scores, including two from Ashley Mackin.
- The Lady Flames trailed 6-2 at the 7:49 mark. The team rattled off four consecutive goals in less than five minutes to tie the game at the 3:35 mark.
- Liberty held Johns Hopkins to a clearance rate of 12-of-17. The Lady Flames were 11-of-13 in clear opportunities.
- Goalkeeper Rachel Hines recorded six saves. Johns Hopkins tallied four.
- The Lady Flames turned the ball over 17 times to 12 by the Blue Jays.
Second Half Summary
- Johns Hopkins outscored Liberty 14-5 in the second half with a 21-15 edge in shots.
- The Blue Jays were a perfect 12-of-12 in clear attempts in the second half.
- Hines equaled her first half output with six saves.
- Liberty turned the ball over 13 times in the second half. Johns Hopkins turned the ball over four times.
- The Blue Jays recorded three straight goals three times in the third and fourth quarters.
- Liberty held a 13-8 advantage in draw controls.
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty held a 22-13 advantage in draw controls. Ava Menna led all players with 12 draw controls.
- Johns Hopkins edged Liberty 21-10 in caused turnovers. Eight Lady Flames recorded a caused turnover.
- The Lady Flames turned the ball over 30 times to 16 from Johns Hopkins
- Liberty and Rachel Hines recorded 12 saves. Johns Hopkins tallied eight.
- The Lady Flames converted 3-of-7 free-position attempts. The Blue Jays were 2-of-5.
- Johns Hopkins earned 27 ground balls to 21 by Liberty. Seven Lady Flames recorded multiple ground balls.
Team Stats
LIBERTY
JHU
Shots
27
38
Turnovers
30
16
Caused Turnovers
10
21
Draw Controls
22
13
Free-Position Shots
7
5
Ground Balls
21
27
Game Leaders
Players
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
2
A
3
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseLiberty Lacrosse: Giving Hope to a New Teammate
Tuesday, June 03
Coach Nangle Talks About Preparing For The NCAA WLAX Tournament
Tuesday, May 06
Mackenzie Lehman & Katie Colavito Talk About Preparing For The NCAA WLAX Tournament
Tuesday, May 06
Coach Nangle & Mackenzie Lehman Talk About Winning The ASUN Tournament
Saturday, May 03