Virginia women’s soccer went back on the road Sunday afternoon, this time to Lynchburg, Va., to take on Liberty for an in-state matchup. Both the Cavaliers (3-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) and the Flames (2-1-1, 0-0-0 CUSA) looked to remain undefeated on the season, and the visitors ultimately won 2-0 with a pair of late goals.
“It was a good team win today,” associate head coach Ron Raab said. “Liberty is a well-organized, competitive team that is difficult to break down and will be a tough team to play all season. We were a bit sloppy in possession during the first half, but had some better moments in the second that resulted in two quality goals.”
In the 21st minute, fifth-year midfielder Lia Godfrey sent a free kick screaming toward the right side of the net from 30 yards out. Liberty’s senior goalkeeper Ainsley Leja dove to make the midair save, keeping the game scoreless. The game remained that way until late into the second half, as both Leja and junior goalkeeper Victoria Safradin kept a tight seal on their respective nets.
In the 76th minute, Godfrey got a second chance at a nearly identical set piece from straight on. She made sure to not squander the opportunity this time, successfully placing the shot just inside of the right post, past Leja’s outstretched reach. Godfrey’s slight adjustment from her first free kick gave the Cavaliers the game’s first goal and a lead that would hold for the remainder of the match. Godfrey has now converted on free-kick goals in consecutive outings, and she leads Virginia in total points through three games with five.
The Cavaliers added an insurance goal in the 84th minute when junior forward Allie Ross took a nice entry pass into the box from junior midfielder Ella Carter and drilled a shot on the ground past Leja. Like Godfrey, Ross also found the back of the net last Thursday against Xavier, giving her goals in back-to-back games as well.
While the goals did not come until late, the final score is more representative of Virginia’s performance Sunday, as the Cavaliers controlled possession and often created opportunities in the attacking third, winning the shot battle 18-7.
Safradin, meanwhile, was stout in goal, denying Liberty two point-blank chances that could have swung the momentum and the outcome of the game drastically. She has now opened the campaign with three shutouts.
The Cavaliers remain perfect in their series against the Flames with a record of 17-0, by a combined score of 77-1. Though historically lopsided, this is a quality victory for Virginia over an underrated Liberty unit — the Flames had the 47th best RPI in 2024, despite missing the NCAA Tournament, and are a real threat to win the CUSA this season.
“We’re pleased we had a number of different players contribute with good minutes and that will only help us as we progress through the season,” Raab said.
The Cavaliers return home Thursday to face Charlotte, and kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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