Margaret Garner and Halle Engle scored goals to lead No. 1 seed Liberty past No. 8 seed Sam Houston in the CUSA Women’s Soccer Championship Quarterfinal on Sunday evening, according to Liberty Athletics.
The victory in Newark, Del., moves the Lady Flames (15-2-2, 7-0-1 CUSA) one step closer to defending their 2025 CUSA title. Liberty will face the winner of the matchup between No. 4 FIU and No. 5 New Mexico State in the semifinals, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.
The win extends Liberty’s unbeaten streak to 14 games. The team’s last loss this season occurred on Aug. 27, a 2-0 defeat at Pitt.
Liberty established control early in the contest. Garner opened the scoring in the 21st minute by maneuvering through space outside the penalty area before beating the Bearkat keeper for her fourth goal of the season.
The momentum stayed with the Lady Flames just six minutes later. CUSA Player of the Year Halle Engle doubled the lead in the 27th minute after receiving a long pass from Avery Paulson that originated from beyond the midfield line. Engle held off a defender before striking the ball into the far corner of the net.
Liberty’s defense largely neutralized Sam Houston during the first half, limiting the Bearkats to only three shots. The Lady Flames finished the game outshooting Sam Houston 25-12 and holding a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Despite the early deficit, Sam Houston increased their pressure during the second half. The Bearkats managed nine shots in the final 45 minutes, eventually finding a breakthrough in the 81st minute.
Gianna Gomez scored for Sam Houston, capitalizing on a loose ball in the penalty area following a corner kick to cut the Liberty lead in half. The Bearkats continued to push in the final minute, but Liberty held on to secure the win.
Liberty goalkeeper Ainsley Leja, who holds a 13-1-2 record, recorded three saves. Her season statistics include a 0.48 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage.
| Statistic | Liberty | Sam Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 1 |
| Total Shots | 25 | 12 |
| Shots on Goal | 9 | 4 |
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 3 |
The result reinforces Liberty’s dominance within the conference. The Lady Flames currently hold a 24-game unbeaten streak against CUSA opponents. Their last regular-season loss in conference play came against FIU on Sept. 27, 2024, a run that ranks as the fifth-longest among Division I programs.
The goal conceded to Gomez was only the second goal Liberty has allowed to a CUSA opponent this season. It also ended a defensive stretch that included six consecutive shutouts and more than 600 minutes without conceding.
The pressure now shifts to the semifinal round in Newark, where Liberty must maintain this defensive consistency to remain on track for a repeat championship.
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