The Liberty University Women’s Soccer team was knocked out of the first round of the NCAA tournament Nov. 14 after falling to No. 8 Clemson University, where the Lady Tigers won 2-1.
Liberty came into the game with a 14-3-4 record to take on Clemson with a standing record of 7-5-5.
In a pregame interview, Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer discussed the challenges Liberty would face against Clemson.
“We know they’re going to be talented,” Wedemeyer said. “They’ve got some really top midfielders. Their center forward is an excellent player. They are very organized defensively. They don’t give up much in that regard.”
Off the whistle, Clemson gained possession of the ball, immediately searching for a scoring opportunity, but this momentum was quickly crushed by Conference USA Player of the Year senior forward Ivy Garner.
Garner ran the ball through an open lane to Clemson’s goal but was stopped by the Lady Tigers defense who took the ball out of bounds, giving Liberty the first corner kick of the game within 30 seconds of play time.
Redshirt senior midfielder Briana Myers took the corner, but the Lady Flames could not generate a scoring opportunity.
In response, the Lady Tigers took possession and sent a shot toward the net. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Peyton Huber blocked it with her first touch of the game.
After a hard boot from Huber, the ball once again entered Clemson’s half where it remained for a large portion during the first half.
Clemson took possession 20 minutes into the first half and attempted a scoring opportunity, but the ball was redirected by the Lady Flames defense. Liberty and Clemson traded possession until the Lady Tigers found an opening and sunk the ball into the net, putting the first score on the board for the Lady Tigers 1-0.
As the defense regrouped, Liberty’s offense took an open lane down to the Lady Tigers post which set up a 1-on-1 between Garner and Clemson’s keeper.
Garner charged the goal and sent a shot sailing into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.
Garner spoke highly of her teammates, giving them credit for her multiple scoring opportunities throughout the season.
“I really just give a lot of credit to my teammates because almost all of my goals are a result of them playing me really great balls and finding me in great positions,” Garner said to Liberty Athletics.
The remainder of the half did not see much change. The score remained tied 1-1 as the clock expired.
At the start of the second half, the Lady Flames booted the ball out of bounds on Clemson’s side of the field, which allowed them to steal the ball back on a Clemson throw-in.
The Lady Flames attempted to put up more points but were stopped by Clemson during a run down the field.
No viable scoring opportunities presented until Clemson was awarded a penalty kick off a late tackle call.
Liberty’s wall lined up for the kick, but the ball went high and over the top bar, leaving the scoreboard still at a 1-1 tie.
Around 15 minutes into the half, Liberty took its sixth corner of the game but the kick from Myers was saved.
Clemson took this opportunity and ran the ball down toward the Liberty goal and broke through the Lady Flames defense, but before a shot was made, senior midfielder and defenseman Elise Graf booted the ball away.
With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, each team saw all positions stepping up to attempt to turn the game in their favor.
The ball eventually found its way in front of a Clemson forward who took the nearside shot and sunk one in to break the tie.
The score sat at 2-1 in favor of Clemson with only nine minutes left of the first-round game.
The Lady Flames continued to push the ball down into the Lady Tiger’s pitch, but as time ran low, Liberty shifted its game positions to push Huber out of the goal and into an attacking position to aid Liberty forwards as a last resort.
With Liberty’s last goal attempt unsuccessful, Clemson took the win with a 1-point lead in the second half, moving on to the second round of the NCAA championship tournament.
The Lady Flames finished with an overall 14-4-4 record and 6-0-2 in conference play.
Stewart is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.