LYNCHBURG, Va. - Liberty (8-3-5) secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over SIUE (4-9-2) on Saturday afternoon at Liberty Soccer Stadium, extending their unbeaten run to three matches. The Flames capitalized on first-half opportunities to build a two-goal advantage before withstanding a late SIUE comeback attempt.
Leo Conneh opened the scoring for Liberty in the 19th minute, converting a well-placed assist from Perry Blay. Ben Carman doubled the Flames' advantage in the 33rd minute with Casey McCarthy providing the assist. SIUE's Carles Zomeno pulled one back in the 70th minute off a combination play from Evan Howard and Zach Renz, but Liberty's defense held firm for the final twenty minutes.
The first half saw Liberty establish control through aggressive attacking play, recording six shot attempts in the opening 45 minutes. Leo Conneh proved particularly dangerous, testing the SIUE defense with multiple attempts including shots in the 4th and 10th minutes. Perry Blay and Ben Carman also created problems for the Cougars' backline, with Blay forcing a save in the 19th minute.
SIUE showed more attacking intent after the break, led by Dom Bartoni who registered two shots in the second half. The Cougars' tactical adjustment to press higher up the field paid dividends, leading to increased possession and Zomeno's goal. Jake Karolczak and Carles Zomeno both had promising opportunities, though Liberty's defensive organization remained resolute under pressure.
The match statistics reflected the competitive nature of the contest, with Liberty recording nine total shots to SIUE's seven. The Flames held a slight advantage in corners (4-2) and generated three shots on target compared to SIUE's four. The physical nature of the match was evident in the cards shown, with SIUE's Dom Bartoni and Ethan Hackenberg, plus Liberty's Ty Conley all receiving yellow cards.
Individual performances shaped the outcome significantly. Liberty's Leo Conneh was particularly influential before being substituted in the 80th minute, while Ben Carman's goal-scoring contribution proved decisive. For SIUE, Carles Zomeno's attacking presence and goal demonstrated his importance to the Cougars' offense, while Dom Bartoni's aggressive play in midfield kept Liberty's defense honest despite earning a caution in the 55th minute.
Tactically, Liberty's approach of utilizing quick transitions and wide attacks proved effective in the first half, with Elijah John and Casey McCarthy providing crucial width. SIUE's second-half adjustments, including more direct play through the middle, created better opportunities but couldn't fully overcome the two-goal deficit.
The victory maintains Liberty's strong form, building on recent draws against Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois. For SIUE, the loss ends a two-game winning streak that included victories over Houston Christian and UIW, though their improved second-half performance provides encouragement moving forward.
Both teams face quick turnarounds with crucial conference matches ahead. Liberty travels to Houston Christian on October 30, while SIUE returns home to host Western Illinois on the same date. The Flames will look to extend their unbeaten run, while the Cougars aim to bounce back and maintain their push for conference positioning.