Liberty University Flames

LYNCHBURG, Virginia. – No. 11 Liberty is ready for its 2024 home game against No. 3 Virginia on Sunday afternoon, with game tip-off at 1 p.m. at Liberty Field Hockey Field.

This will be the third consecutive season that the Lady Flames and the Cavaliers will meet. Last year (August 29, 2023), Liberty earned a 3-1 road victory over sixth-ranked UVA, their first-ever road win against the Cavaliers.

Liberty opened the 2024 season with two wins last weekend. The Lady Flames defeated Indiana 2-1 in the second overtime period, followed by a 4-1 road win over Kent State. Both games were played at Murphy-Mellis Field in Kent, Ohio.

Meanwhile, No. 16 Virginia beat Penn State 2-1 in its first game and will host Temple (2-0) in Charlottesville on Friday night before traveling to Lynchburg for Sunday afternoon's game.

News and notes about Lady Flames

• Seven of the eight meetings between Liberty and Virginia have been decided by exactly one goal. The Lady Flames are 2-6 overall against the Cavaliers, but have won two of the last four meetings since the 2018 season.
• Liberty has a 6-7 record in home openers, but has won three of its last five home openers. Last year, the Lady Flames beat Kent State 2-0 in their first home game.
• This is the second time in program history that Liberty has faced a top-5 opponent in its home opener. In the 2021 fall season, the Lady Flames faced No. 5 Northwestern (4-3 loss) in their first home game. Liberty and Northwestern faced each other again at the end of that season in the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship title game.
• Freedom Martu Cian And Ella Murphy both were named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for their performances in last weekend's two victories. Cian scored three goals in the win over Kent State, while Murphy scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime against Indiana.
• Cian and Murphy were both named to the 2024 NFHCA Watchlist on August 29, along with fifth-year midfielder Reagan UnderwoodThe NFHCA Watch List represents the top collegiate student-athletes who, as nominated by their member coach, are early candidates for this year's NFHCA All-Region and All-American teams.
• First-year defender with the Lady Flames Dara Semmartin leads the team with two assists to start. The Buenos Aires native had an assist in every game last weekend, which was her first collegiate appearance.
• This is the sixth consecutive season that Liberty has opened with a 2-0 record.
• Liberty's last win against a top-5 team came last season (October 8, 2023) against No. 1 North Carolina. Cian scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime of a 2-1 victory over the Tar Heels. UNC went on to win the 2023 NCAA title.
• Liberty was selected as the conference champion in the 2024 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll. This is the third consecutive year the Lady Flames have been selected as the league champion.
• Liberty received four of the eight available first-place finishes and 46 points in the poll. Reigning BIG EAST champion Old Dominion was picked to finish second in the league with two first-place finishes and 43 points. Connecticut is third in the poll with two first-place finishes and 33 points. Temple is the other team, tied for third with 33 points. Rounding out the poll are Villanova (fifth, 26 points), Providence (sixth, 22 points), Quinnipiac (seventh, 14 points) and Georgetown (eighth, seven points).
• The Lady Flames (17-3, 7-0 BIG EAST in 2023) have won two of the last three BIG EAST championship titles and three consecutive BIG EAST regular season titles.