Comeback falls short
Lady Flames beat by Virginia in top 10 battle at home
The No. 8 Lady Flames field hockey team fell 4-3 to No. 5 Virginia, Thursday, Oct. 15. Liberty fought hard, scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes, but it was not enough to make up for the three-goal deficit in the second half.
Determination — Freshman forward Abby Julius moves the ball upfield against the Cavaliers. Photo credit: Michela Diddle
For the third year in a row, the Lady Flames have been unable to defeat the Cavaliers. The loss puts Liberty at 9-4 for the season while the Cavaliers improve to 11-3.
Liberty controlled the offensive possessions for majority of the first half, creating opportunities to score. These offensive advances resulted in a short corner in the 21st minute that lead to the first goal of the game. Junior midfielder Serena Barr passed the ball across the frame to her twin sister, junior midfielder Bethany Barr, who slammed the ball into the top left corner.
The Cavaliers stepped up their game after Liberty’s goal, battling the Lady Flames in the midfield for a final possession late in the first half. In the closing minute, the Cavaliers received a penalty corner that Lucy Hyams shot, which was originally blocked but deflected off a Liberty defender and slipped into the goal.
As the second half started with both teams tied 1-1, the Cavaliers quickly turned up the intensity, scoring three goals in merely 13 minutes to increase their lead to 4-1. The goals were netted by Ell Greta, Caleigh Foust and Hyams.
Despite the three-goal difference, Liberty kept fighting hard, continuing to attack the goal. Their ferocity finally paid off in the 60th minute when senior forward Natalie Barr redirected a pass across the circle to senior forward Ashlee Krulock, wide open on the opposite side, who nudged the ball into the net, putting Liberty at a two-goal disadvantage.
Just four minutes later, Liberty was rewarded with a penalty corner. Senior defender Hannah Jones found Serena Barr inside the circle who ripped a shot into the top right corner of the net, brining Liberty within one goal of the Cavaliers.
With only six minutes remaining, Liberty’s attack pressed forward trying to produce another goal to tie up the game. Regardless of a few looks for shots on goal, the Flames could not get a shot on target, ending the game 3-4.
Battlefield — Opposing players fight for the ball on the wet turf. Photo credit: Michela Diddle
All four of Liberty’s losses have been to teams in the ACC, losing by only one goal in each game.
“There are some nerves we’re facing when we’re coming up against these ACC teams,” Head Coach Jodi Murphy said. “We’ve come out and really competed hard in the second half but it’s just been a little bit too late.”
With five games left in the season, the Lady Flames will have two opportunities to change their losing streak against ACC teams as they will compete against Duke and North Carolina later in the season to contend for a bid to the NCAA tournament.
Regardless of the loss, Murphy was not disappointed in the level of play on the field, proving they have the potential to keep up with any team in the country.
“I’m proud of the girls for pressing on, that’s been our theme all season,” Murphy said. “They found a way in the last 15 minutes to turn it up and play the style of hockey that we’re capable of. Hopefully we learn from this and take it into this next week and our last five games.”
The Lady Flames take on UMass Lowell on Oct. 23 in Lowell, Mass. Then they will head to Providence, R.I. to compete against Providence on Oct. 25.
Britton is a sports reporter.