The Shadow
LYNCHBURG, Va. (VR) – The Liberty women’s soccer team wraps up its non-conference schedule with a set of home games this week, welcoming James Madison (2-3) on Thursday and hosting Old Dominion (2-4) on Sunday. Thursday’s contest is set for a 6 p.m. start with Sunday’s tilt kicking off at 1 p.m., streaming live on ESPN+.
The Lady Flames will honor 11 contributors to the program in a pre-game Senior Day Ceremony on Sunday. The class consists of nine student-athletes and two student managers. Those being recognized include goalkeepers Peyton Huber and Grace Workman, forwards Halle Engle and Carly Keene, midfielders Gabby Miranda and Avenley Monteith, defenders Sallie Garner, Dani Gubbels and Lauren Littleton and managers Katie Loran and Claire Thoman.
Liberty is coming off a 2-0 week with a road 2-0 triumph at William & Mary and a dramatic three-goal comeback victory at home over George Mason.
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty is 3-8-2 all-time against JMU with a 2-2-2 record in its last six matchups. The Lady Flames and Dukes played to a 2-2 draw in Harrisonburg, Va., last season.
- The Lady Flames own a 6-5-2 record all-time against ODU and are 6-0-2 in their last eight contests. Liberty topped the Monarchs with a late goal for a 1-0 road win last season.
- Midfielder Avenley Monteith (2g, 2a) leads the team with six points.
- Four Lady Flames, Monteith, Halle Engle, Margaret Garner, and Isabella Wedemeyer, have accounted for two goals.
- Liberty has eight different goal scorers for 12 total goals this season.
- Three Lady Flames, Monteith, Audrey Heustis and Brooklyn Jenkins, have tallied multiple assists this season
- Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (3-1-1) has started the last six games. She currently sports a 0.93 goals-against average and a .760 save percentage.
- Liberty’s three-goal comeback against George Mason saw four different goal scorers in Monteith, Wedemeyer, Haley Noblit and Keelyn Eslinger.
- Defender Lauren Littleton (709 minutes) played every minute of the 2026 season leading up to last Sunday’s tilt against George Mason, where she played 79 minutes. Despite that, Maddyson Kerley (714 minutes) leads the team in minutes played.
- The center back duo has been on the field together for all but 11 minutes through eight games this season.
- Three Lady Flames, Eslinger, Dani Gubbels and Izzie Smulik, have scored a goal on their only shot attempt.
