BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - Liberty and Southern Indiana battled to a 2-2 draw on Thursday evening in a back-and-forth contest that saw the Screaming Eagles erase a two-goal deficit. The match, played before a crowd of 1,247, showcased both teams' resilience as they each extended their unbeaten runs to two games.
Sam Farner put Liberty ahead in the 5th minute, finishing off a well-worked combination between Zach Lifferth and Aidan Morrison. The Flames doubled their advantage in the 49th minute when Lifferth found the back of the net off an assist from Farner. Southern Indiana mounted an impressive comeback, with David Davila converting a penalty in the 66th minute before equalizing in the 80th minute off a Chase Smith assist.
The first half saw Liberty dominate possession and create multiple scoring opportunities. Leo Conneh tested Southern Indiana goalkeeper Jacob English with a blocked shot in the 2nd minute, setting the tone for an aggressive Flames attack. The visitors continued to press, with Noah Daniels and Elijah John both forcing saves from English before the break. A yellow card to Conneh in the 18th minute added tension to an already intense opening period.
Southern Indiana emerged with renewed energy after halftime, with Edin Cvorovic nearly pulling one back in the 47th minute. The momentum shifted decisively after Davila's penalty conversion, which came following a foul by Aidan Morrison. The Screaming Eagles' pressure intensified, culminating in Davila's equalizer that sent the home crowd into celebration. Liberty's cause wasn't helped by a late red card in the 85th minute, forcing them to defend desperately in the closing stages.
The statistics reflected Liberty's overall control of the match, outshooting Southern Indiana 15-6, with 10 shots on target compared to the hosts' 5. The Flames also held the advantage in corner kicks (6-3), though their discipline was questionable with three yellow cards and one red compared to Southern Indiana's single yellow to Will Kirchhofer in the 88th minute.
Both goalkeepers played crucial roles in the outcome. Jacob English made eight saves for Southern Indiana, including crucial stops on attempts from Zach Lifferth and Leo Conneh in the second half. Tyler Beck recorded three saves for Liberty, though he couldn't prevent Davila's well-placed equalizer.
The tactical battle evolved throughout the match, with Liberty's early high press yielding success before Southern Indiana adjusted their formation to create more attacking opportunities. The introduction of Tony Murphy and Isaac Weidner as second-half substitutes provided fresh energy for the Screaming Eagles' comeback effort.
For Liberty (6-3-3), the draw extends their unbeaten streak but will feel like a missed opportunity after holding a two-goal lead. Southern Indiana (2-7-2) showed remarkable resilience in earning their second consecutive draw, building on their recent improved form following a win against Houston Christian and draw with UIW.
The match ultimately served as a testament to Southern Indiana's fighting spirit and Liberty's inability to close out a commanding position. Davila's brace proved decisive, while the late dismissal of a Liberty player highlighted the intense nature of a contest that remained competitive until the final whistle.
Both teams return to action on Sunday, with Liberty hosting Lindenwood at 1:00 PM, while Southern Indiana travels to face SIUE in a 6:00 PM kickoff.