Liberty Routs Winthrop 22-7 at Home, Ferguson Sets Program Record With 17 Draws
The Lady Flames improved to 2-1 at home after dominating former Big South foe Winthrop by a 22-7 score at home, Thursday afternoon from the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
Attacker Lizzy Ferguson posted a Liberty single-game program record 17 draw controls today. The previous record of 13 was shared by Ferguson this season Richmond on Feb. 18 and Morgan Learn versus Winthrop on Feb. 26, 2020. Ferguson’s 17 draws are the fifth most of any player in a game in Division I women’s lacrosse this season.
Liberty improves to 3-5 on the year following the win, its largest margin of victory this season. Winthrop slips to 3-4.
Liberty got off to a hot start, tallying two goals in the first minute of the game from Cami Merkel and Ferguson. Liberty grew the lead to 9-3 by the end of the first quarter. Liberty kept the pressure on, scoring eight goals in the second half to secure the 22-7 win.
Three Lady Flames – Katie Rodriguez, Brooke Beard and Jenna Burrow – earned their first career goals in Thursday’s matchup. It was the first career appearance for Brooke Beard. A total of 14 Liberty players scored in the contest.
Scoring Summary
Liberty Goals: Andrea Colavito, 3, Jordan Sheive 3, Mackenzie Lehman 2, Katie Colavito 2 Lizzy Ferguson 2, Tori Banks 2, Kelly Scott 1, Olivia Glaze 1, Celena Kerr 1, Cami Merkel 1, Jenna Burrow 1, Brooke Beard 1, Katie Rodriguez 1, Taiva Reinertson 1
Liberty Assists: Andrea Colavito 2, Mackenzie Lehman 2, Kelly Scott 2, Delaney Donohue1, Olivia Glaze 1, Celena Kerr 1
Winthrop Goals: Claire Witmer 4, Ellie Dutton 1, Krystal Beebe 1, Molly Dankowski 1
Winthrop Assists: Scarlet Cifarelli 2, Gabby Pierpont 2, Krystal Beebe 1, Ellie Dutton 1
Goalkeepers
W: Taylor Gallarello 2-0, one save
L: Maddy Hodgson 3-4, two saves
Turning Point
After leading 4-2 at 8:24 in the first quarter, Liberty rattled off five of the last six goals of the first quarter to lead 9-3 at the end of the frame. Seven different Lady Flames contributed goals in the first quarter.
Liberty outscored Winthrop 5-1 over the next 15 minutes to take a 14-4 lead at the break. The Lady Flames’ Mackenzie Lehman scored the first two goals of the frame. Her first goal of the frame at the 13:59 mark gave her 100 career points, the 13th player in program history to reach the century mark. Olivia Glaze, Katie Colavito and Jordan Sheive scored the other goals in the period, with Sheive’s goal pushing the Lady Flames’ advantage to 10 with a second left on the clock in the quarter.
First Half Summary
• Liberty built the 9-3 lead in the first quarter despite Winthrop scoring on all but one of its shots.
• Lizzy Ferguson had nine draw controls alone in the first quarter and 12 of her career-best 17 draws by halftime.
• The Lady Flames outscored the Eagles 5-1 in the second quarter to grow the lead to 14-4. Liberty outshot Winthrop 25-7 over the first 30 minutes.
Second Half Summary
• Winthrop scored the first goal of the second half, but Liberty kept its foot on the gas pedal, scoring the next three goals to grow the advantage to 17-5.
• Liberty went on a similar run between the third and fourth quarters, scoring five unanswered goals.
Key Stats & Notes
• Ferguson’s record-breaking 14th draw control came at the 7:53 mark of the third quarter.
• Ferguson’s performance today puts her at 68 draw controls for the season in only eight games. The program single-season record is 79, set by both Carly White and Hope Flack in 2019. Ferguson has 174 career draw controls, third most in program history. The current program record holder is Brianna McCaffrey, who won 233 draws from 2016-19. Ferguson is 59 shy of McCaffrey’s record.
• For the game, Liberty outdrew Winthrop 19-11.
• Lady Flames’ goalkeeper Taylor Gallarello (2-0) earned a win in her first career start. Gallarello gave up four goals in 30 minutes of play with one save. The sophomore netminder from Center Moriches, N.Y. also scooped up one ground ball and had one caused turnover.
• Midfielder Andrea Colavito scored a career-high three goals in the contest. She matched a career high with two assists for a career-best five points.
• Liberty outshot Winthrop 41-13 for the game while not allowing more than four shots in any frame. Seven Lady Flames recorded more than three shots in the game.
• Liberty generated 17 caused turnovers in the game compared to Winthrop’s eight. Eleven different Lady Flames recorded a caused turnover led by Ferguson with three.
• Liberty collected 28 ground balls, a season high, against Winthrop’s 16. Four Lady Flames grabbed at least three in the match. Jordan Sheive led the way for Liberty with four ground balls.
• The Lady Flames improve to 2-1 at home and will have a chance to improve that record on Saturday against Furman.
• Liberty cashed in from free position scoring on 4-of-9 attempts while also passing out of two and converting those into goals.
• Two Lady Flames also earned their first career assists in Delaney Donahue and Celena Kerr. It was the first career appearance for Donahue, as she also notched a ground ball in the contest.
• Liberty improves to 5-6 all-time against Winthrop and has claimed each of the last three meetings.
Up Next
• Liberty has a quick turnaround, with its next game on Saturday at noon against Furman (3-3) at the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
• The Lady Flames are 2-1 all-time against Furman, last seeing the Paladins in a 10-8 road loss in 2021.
Main Photo at Top of Story: No. 30 Lizzy Ferguson
