Back-to-Back Champs: Lady Flames Soccer downs WKU 3-1 to win conference title

No. 1 seed Liberty topped No. 2 seed Western Kentucky 3-1 on Friday to secure a second consecutive Conference USA Championship title and advance to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Lady Flames were lifted by a pair of tallies by Halle Engle and a game-winning goal from Margaret Garner.

Liberty (16-2-3) secures its third CUSA championship title in four seasons, earning both the regular season championship and CUSA Championship title in back-to-back seasons.

The Lady Flames receive the Conference USA automatic bid and await the result of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship Selection Show on Monday at 4 p.m. The team will watch the show from the Williams Stadium Club Pavilion (third floor of Carter Tower), and the public is invited.

Following the game, Halle Engle was named the CUSA Championship Offensive MVP and Maddyson Kerley was named the CUSA Championship Defensive MVP. Two Lady Flames, Margaret Garner and Haley Noblit, were selected to the 2026 CUSA All-Tournament team along with two MVPs.

Western Kentucky jumped ahead, cashing in on a corner attempt from Makenna Egan in the 16th minute. Liberty was outshot 9-7 in the first half as goalkeeper Ainsley Leja made a pair of saves.

Liberty responded with an equalizer from the 2026 CUSA Player of the Year, Halle Engle in the 59th minute. Midfielder Haley Noblit stepped around a WKU defender, lunging to make a centering pass to Engle. The forward expertly placed a shot to the far end of the net to even the contest.

Margaret Garner put her speed on display to register the go-ahead and game-winning goal. Capitalizing on a misplay from a Hilltopper defender, the forward streaked through the back line and made a dash for the penalty area. With a step on her defender, Garner directed the ball to the near side, sliding the goal just in front of the near post.

Minutes later, Engle made a charge into the penalty area and earned a penalty kick when her shot toward goal deflected off an arm for a handball. Engle cashed in her second penalty kick of the tournament to award the Lady Flames a 3-1 lead.

Scoring Summary

16’ – Western Kentucky – Makenna Egan

59’ – Liberty – Halle Engle (9) – Haley Noblit

76’ – Liberty – Margaret Garner (5)

79’ – Liberty – Halle Engle (10) — Penalty

Lady Flames News & Notes

• The team extends its unbeaten streak to 16 games (14-0-2). Its last loss this season was a 2-0 loss at Pitt (Aug. 27).
• The Lady Flames carry a 22-game unbeaten streak against CUSA opponents.
• Goalkeeper Ainsley Leja (14-1-3) now sports a 0.53 goals-against average and a .844 save percentage. She made four saves in the game against 14 shots.
• Liberty outshot WKU 21-14 with an 11-5 edge in shots on goal.
• Three Lady Flames, Leja, Sallie Garner and Lauren Littleton played a full 90-minute game, with Maddyson Kerley clocking in 89 minutes.
• Engle tied for the CUSA Championship lead with three goals (WKU’s Makenna Egan).
• Liberty has won six consecutive CUSA Championship games, winning three at home in 2025 and three this week in Newark, Del.
• Liberty is the first program to repeat as CUSA champions since North Texas in 2018 and 2019.