Josh McDaniel

Women's Soccer

WSOC: Liberty to Face No. 4 Georgia in NCAA Tournament

2023 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship Bracket
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Conference USA Women’s Soccer Tournament champion Liberty learned it will face No. 4 seed Georgia in the first round of the 2023 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship at 3 p.m. CT Friday in Athens, Ga., as announced by the NCAA Monday.
 
It marks the Lady Flames’ eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the first since the spring of 2021, when they were bested by Washington in the opening round. The Bulldogs are making their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and it marks their first back-to-back appearances since 2008-09. Georgia was ousted by national runner-up North Carolina in the second round of last year’s tournament. Liberty dropped its only run-in with Georgia back in 2003.
 
The Lady Flames matched a program record with 16 wins on the year, including 11 straight to open the season and stretch their unbeaten streak to 24 matches. They’ve won five of their last six matches, including two wins at last week’s CUSA Soccer Championship to claim their eighth conference tournament title in program history. Liberty defeated host LA Tech, 4-0, in the semifinals and knocked off top-seeded NM State in Sunday’s final by a 2-1 margin.
 
CUSA Midfielder of the Year Rachel DeRuby was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament after tying for the most points in a CUSA championship with eight (three goals, two assists), including a goal and an assist in Sunday’s championship match. CUSA Goalkeeper of the Year Ainsley Leja garnered Defensive MVP recognition with just one goal allowed in two matches. She made nine stops, including a crucial leaping save in the 58th minute on Sunday to keep it a level score.
 
They were joined on the all-tournament team by sophomore forward Allison Hansford and graduate midfielder Saydie Holland, whose game-winning header lifted the Lady Flames to a victory over the Aggies. Hansford played a vital role in the high-octane Liberty attack.
 
Georgia is coming off its first SEC Tournament title in program history after upsetting No. 10 Arkansas, 1-0, in the championship match. The winner between the Lady Flames and Bulldogs will take on the winner between No. 5 seed Iowa and Bucknell.