Liberty to Play BIG EAST Opener at Villanova on Friday
9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
After joining the BIG EAST Conference as an affiliate member just over nine months ago, the Liberty field hockey team will play its inaugural BIG EAST contest on Friday at Villanova.
The contest will be a 4 p.m. start at the Villanova Field Hockey Field in Conshohocken, Pa. The game will be the first-ever regular season contest played on the brand-new field.
This will be the second meeting all-time between the two programs. Liberty defeated Villanova, 2-1, on Oct. 6, 2012, in Lynchburg.
How to Follow the Lady Flames
Live stats will be available for the match by clicking the appropriate link on the field hockey schedule/results panel on LibertyFlames.com. There will be no live audio or video stream for the match.
Also, be sure to follow Liberty Gameday on Twitter (@LUGameday) for live in-game updates.
New Beasts of the BIG EAST
Liberty enters its first year in the BIG EAST Conference after officially becoming an affiliate member on Dec. 8, 2015. The Lady Flames will play a seven-game conference slate, highlighted by a trip to 2013 and 2014 national champion UConn on Oct. 15.
The BIG EAST currently has two ranked teams, No. 5 UConn and No. 13 Old Dominion, in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll.
Liberty boasts seniors Serena and Bethany Barr, both preseason All-BIG EAST team selections. Serena was a preseason co-defensive player of the year choice.
The Lady Flames were picked to finish second in the conference's preseason poll behind only UConn.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Connecticut – 49 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Liberty – 40 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Old Dominion – 39 points
4. Temple – 30 points
5. Providence – 25 points
6. Villanova – 19 points
7. Quinnipiac – 13 points
8. Georgetown – 9 points
Early Season Summary
Liberty opened its 2016 schedule with four straight ranked opponents, James Madison, Duke, Syracuse and Virginia. Villanova is the first unranked opponent the Lady Flames will play.
Liberty (0-4) lost its third one-goal game of the season on Monday, a 2-1 defeat at Virginia. Senior defender Serena Barr scored her second goal of the season, while freshman goalkeeper Allison Schaefer made nine saves. Summer Parker notched the first assist of her career, while Bethany Barr had her third assist of the season.
Lady Flames News and Notes
- Goalkeeper Allison Schaefer, who was last week's BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, currently ranks third in the nation in saves per game at 9.50. The freshman has 38 total saves on the season, 10 behind former Lady Flames goalkeeper Brooke Morley (48 saves) for third place all-time in career saves in program history.
- Serena Barr's goal on Monday at Virginia was the 23rd of her career. She ranks fourth in program history in goals.
- Bethany Barr's assist on Monday at Virginia was her third of the year. Barr currently ranks 25th in the nation in assists per game (0.75).
- The assist by Bethany Barr was also the 26th of her career, putting her in a tie for second place in program history with her sister, Natalie Barr (2012-15), who is the team's current graduate assistant coach.
- Freshman Mallory Fortenbaugh made her first defensive save of the year in the 18th minute on Monday at Virginia. Liberty has two defensive saves on the season, with the other coming from junior Rachel Suter.
- The Lady Flames are still struggling on penalty corners. They went 1-for-8 against Virginia and are now 3-for-28 on the season.
- Serena Barr leads the team in shots (14) and shots on goal (6).
- Liberty holds a 28-26 edge over its opponents in penalty corners.
- The team has scored four of its five goals this season in the second half.
Scouting Villanova
Villanova (0-6) is also looking for its first win of 2016. The Wildcats fell to Rider, 4-3, in their most recent game on Tuesday.
Senior midfielder Kristen Mericle and junior forward Fracesca Bello have been the team's two primary playmakers so far this season. Mericle has three goals and two assists (eight points) in six games, while Bello has tallied two goals and three assists (seven points).
Sophomore Erika Miller (0-6, 4.38 GAA) has seen the most time in goal for Villanova.
The Wildcats are coached by Joanie Milhous, who is in her 22nd season as the head field hockey coach. Milhous has 195 career victories at Villanova.
A Look Ahead
The team will begin its six-game home schedule against non-conference foe Longwood on Tuesday at the Liberty Field Hockey Field at 4 p.m. Liberty will then play its first BIG EAST home contest against Quinnipiac on Sept. 23.
