Liberty Fall Sports Update: 10/3/24

Liberty's fall sports are officially underway across campus and we will provide weekly updates on all teams throughout the semester.

CROSS FIELD

Liberty's men's cross country team captured the team title at the adidas XC Challenge. The Lady Flames, meanwhile, earned a third-place finish on the WakeMed cross country track. Nicholas Kiprotich, Edwin Kiprop and Tristian Merchant individually placed 6-7-8 in the men's 6K, helping the Flames to a five-point win over host NC State at the top of the 14-team men's field .

Allie Zealand placed seventh in the women's 5K, trailing four Lady Flames in the top 14. Liberty ranked behind NC State and Clemson among the 14 women's teams.

The adidas XC Challenge was Liberty's only meet in September. The team will be split between two competitions the first weekend in October, including the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and the Paul Short Run.

FIELD HOCKEY (5-4, 1-1 Big East)

Liberty picked up its first Big East Conference win of 2024 by defeating Providence 2-1 on Friday afternoon in Rhode Island. The win marked a two-game losing streak for the Lady Flames. Liberty scored two goals in the first 11:19 of the game to build a two-goal lead.

On Sunday, the Lady Flames lost on the road at No. 17 Albany won non-conference competition 4-2 in the two programs' first-ever meeting.

Two more games for Liberty this weekend, hosting Temple on Friday at 1 p.m. before facing Appalachian State on Sunday at noon.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL (9-1-2, 1-0 CUSA)

Liberty women's soccer's undefeated season came to an end Friday with a 3-0 home loss to FIU. The two teams battled it out in the first half of the competition despite the rain, with the Panthers taking a 1-0 lead through a free kick goal in the first minute. In the 41st minute, FIU extended its lead to 2-0.

Liberty is back in action on Thursday, hosting UTEP at 6 p.m. and New Mexico State on Sunday at 1 p.m

MEN'S SOCCER (3-3-1, 1-0 OVC)

Forward Michael Huss scored three goals in a game for the first time in his career as the Flames opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 7-1 win over Western Illinois. Huss scored the first three goals of the game and leads the conference with seven goals on the season. Liberty scored four goals late to secure the win.

Liberty continues conference play this weekend with two road trips. On Thursday the Flames play at Incarnate Word at 8 p.m. and on Sunday they take on Houston Christian at 8 p.m

VOLLEYBALL (8-6, 2-0 CUSA)

Liberty won the final three sets on Friday to secure a 3-1 season-opening win over Louisiana Tech. On Saturday, the Lady Flames earned a 3-0 victory over the Bulldogs to open CUSA play 2-0.

The Lady Flames host Conference USA opponent Jacksonville State for two contests this weekend, starting Friday at 6 p.m. and then Saturday at 1 p.m. Liberty then travels to Miami for some midweek action and faces FIU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the return game with the Panthers on Wednesday at 6 p.m