The Liberty women’s soccer team picked up its second straight win on Sunday afternoon, defeating the American Eagles, 2-0, at Osborne Stadium.

Just like Friday’s contest versus Old Dominion, forwards Megan Warner and Crystal Elmers accounted for each of Liberty’s goals. Alanna Dunkle collected her third assist of the year, providing the helper on Warner’s goal. Warner and freshman Julia Delgatti also earned an assist on the goal by Elmers.

Liberty goalkeeper Holly VanNoord picked up her second straight shutout, finishing with one save. American netminder Charlene Belanger also played in between the posts for the entire 90 minutes, gathering eight saves on the afternoon.

The Lady Flames improve to 2-1 on the season, while American falls to 1-3 in 2013. Liberty now holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with its second consecutive win over the Eagles.

Liberty came out firing in the first period, taking four shots in the opening 11 minutes. During the seventh minute, midfielder Brittany Aanderud fired an attempt at the American net, but goalkeeper, however, Belanger was there to push the ball over the crossbar, keeping the contest scoreless.

Four minutes later, Warner lit up the scoreboard with her second goal of the season. For the second in time in as many games, Dunkle played the role of sidekick for Warner, feeding a pass to the forward on the left side of the box. Warner finished with a chip shot high into the right corner to put the Lady Flames ahead, 1-0.

Despite six more Lady Flames’ shots, Liberty was unable to add to its total in the remaining minutes of the period. American’s best look at a game-tying goal occurred in the 34th minute, but VanNoord was there to thwart the attempt by Michaela Cowgill, allowing Liberty to take a one-goal lead into halftime.

The Lady Flames picked up where they left off in the first half, taking shots at will during the second period. In the opening 15 minutes, Belanger stopped a quartet of attempts, including two from Dunkle. In the 81st minute, midfielder Rebecca Smith airmailed a shot from just inside the 18-yard box, which ricocheted off the crossbar.

Less than a minute later, Elmers picked up her second goal of the season. Delgatti initiated the play with a pass into the box to Warner, who immediately flipped the ball to Elmers. The forward executed a perfectly timed header in front of the goal, securing the 2-0 final. 

Liberty will visit the City of Brotherly Love, next weekend, kicking off its two-game stay in Philadelphia against Drexel, Friday. Liberty looks to even the series against the Dragons, after dropping a 1-0 contest to the Colonial Athletic Association member, last season. Game time for the rematch is slated for 8 p.m.
 

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