The Shadow
KENNESAW, Ga. (VR) – Liberty (12-2-1, 5-0-0 CUSA) reached double digits, extending its winning streak to ten games, following a 2-0 shutout on the road over Kennesaw State (5-7-2, 2-3-0 CUSA). Carly Keene and Audrey Heustis each earned their first Liberty goals in the contest.
After peppering the Owls with multiple crosses in the early portions of the contest, the Lady Flames broke through in the 23rd minute. After the Owls failed to clear a far cross, Noblit unleashed a shot that was blocked directly to Halle Engle. The forward sent a pass across the goal face to Carly Keene, who extended and placed a redirected shot directly to the back of the net. The goal for Keene was her first in a Liberty kit since transferring from Lehigh prior to the 2025 season.
Liberty limited Kennesaw to just a single shot, in the eleventh minute, for the first half. The Owls were held without a shot for a span of 67 minutes and a total of two shots in the contest.
The Lady Flames notched another first career goal for added insurance in the 77th minute. After a cross was deflected by the Owls’ goalkeeper, the ball found Gabby Garnett at the edge of the 18-yard box, who sent a shot that was deflected by both the goalkeeper and a defender before bouncing off the post. Audrey Heustis was attacking right on the goal line, depositing the ricochet into the goal for her first career tally. The score was initially called offside, but was reversed following a review.
Liberty records its third consecutive shutout. The team has allowed just a single goal in five Conference USA contests.
Scoring Summary
23′ – Liberty – Carly Keene (1) – Halle Engle
77′ – Liberty – Audrey Heustis (1)
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty’s 10-game winning streak ranks as the longest winning streak in Division I (tied with Southern Illinois).
- The Lady Flames carry a 20-game unbeaten streak against CUSA opponents. Its last regular-season loss was against FIU on Sept. 27, 2024.
- Liberty also owns an 11-game winning streak against conference opponents (incl. postseason), which is currently the longest in Division I.
- The program improves to 7-3-0 all-time against Kennesaw State and earned its third consecutive triumph.
- The Lady Flames have held their opponents to five shots and two shots on goal or less in six games this season.
- Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (10-1-1) earns her sixth shutout of the season. She now has 27 career shutouts; coming into the week, she was tied for No. 6 among active players.
- Leja sports season averages a 0.56 goals-against average and a 0.848 save percentage.
