The Liberty Flames Field Hockey team hosted Longwood University Sunday, Sept. 13 and won 8-0.
The Lady Flames held their senior night to honor fifth-year defenseman Kyleigh Faust, fifth-year forward Tori Griffiths and senior forward Luna Prieri before the game.
Liberty earned seven penalty corners in the first quarter. The first goal of the game was scored 11:36 into the game, when sophomore midfielder Mia Santana punched the ball in off a penalty corner.
The second quarter started quietly on the scoring front, until sophomore defenseman Julieta Tornati sent a pass to freshman forward Pia Iapichino, who sunk the ball into the back of the net. Five penalty corners were given to Liberty, none of which were capitalized upon.
The Lady Flames looked to pounce on another opportunity with 10 minutes remaining in the quarter but were topped by a diving save from Longwood junior goalie Sophie Mooldijk.
Liberty led 2-0 going into halftime.
Freshman midfielder Clarisa Iudicello started the third quarter by sending the ball into the net, assisted by sophomore midfielder Liz Bustillo.
With five minutes to go, Liberty was awarded a penalty shot taken by junior defenseman Dara Semmartin, which was deflected. Freshman midfielder Alexia Guedouar scored her first goal for Liberty with three minutes left to stretch the lead to 4-0. To close out the third quarter, junior forward Josefina Tomasi, who was recently recognized in the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, scored her second goal of the season with an assist from Tornati.
Going into the fourth quarter with Liberty leading 5-0, Longwood had a chance to score off a breakaway, but the ball was saved by sophomore goalie Diane Saint Martin.
With 11 minutes left in the game, Iudicello scored her second goal, and with two minutes left she secured her first hat trick for the Lady Flames.
A penalty stroke taken by Tornati brought the total score to 8-0 for a Liberty win.
“I’m so grateful for all these people out here,” Faust said. “They decorate the locker room for us, they give so much effort and love towards us on this day and it’s so special to see everyone come out and cheer for us.”
The seniors for the Lady Flames finished with a combined seven shots and one assist.
“The first half, we were struggling … the intangibles were a big talking point in the locker room coming out of halftime … with a lot of youth out there on the field so I think it’s really critical,” Head Coach Nikki Parsley-Blocker said.
Liberty takes on Miami University (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 19 at noon at home.
Vanlesser is a sports reporter for The Liberty Champion.