LYNCHBURG, VA. – For the second straight match, the Liberty Flames shut down their opponent, defeating the American Eagles, 1-0, Tuesday evening in a non-conference contest at the East Campus Fields.
      The Flames had shut out Big South Conference foe Campbell, 1-0, in their previous outing, Friday. Just like in that game, the lone goal of the contest came off the foot of forward Kyle Breitmeyer.
      With the win, Liberty moves to 4-6 on the year.  American drops to 6-5-1. The shutout was the Flames third of the season.
      During the opening half, Liberty held American without a shot.  Meanwhile, the Flames carried the play in the period, firing seven shots.
      Liberty’s first shot attempt came during the eighth minute. Off a corner kick, defender Sam Duininck lifted an attempt, which Eagle goalkeeper Billy Knutsen stopped.
      During the 23^rd minute, midfielder Johnny Torres sent a pass into the center of the 18-yard box for Breitmeyer.  However, the forward ripped an attempt over the goal, keeping the game scoreless.
      Several minutes later, Breitmeyer put home another chance. Torres pounced on a loose ball just outside the left side of the penalty area and pushed a pass past an American defender into the box for the junior.  Breitmeyer ran onto the ball and blasted a shot into the left corner of the net for his third goal of the year at 28:41 to give Liberty a 1-0 lead.
      Later in the half, Breitmeyer took a crossing pass from midfielder Blessing Tahuona and launched a shot, only to see American’s Knutsen make a diving save during the 34^th minute.
      The second half began with another scoring opportunity for the Flames.  After an Eagle foul during the 53^rd minute, defender Uriah Bentick sent the ensuing free kick from 25 yards out just outside the right goal post.
      In the 60^th minute, Liberty goalkeeper Scott Sutarik made the stop on American’s first shot attempt of the night, a header by forward Brett Habermehl off a crossing pass into the 18-yard box.
      With Eagles sending extra attackers forward looking for the equalizer during the final 20 minutes, the Flames caught American in transition for a shot during the 78^th minute. Duininck moved into the right side of the penalty area and sent a pass to the far post for Tahuona. The midfielder lifted a shot, which hit the crossbar and bounced out, keeping the contest, 1-0.
      During the 81^st minute, Sutarik made a stop of a wobbling shot in front of the net by Eagle forward Colin Seigfreid.
      A shot by Amercian’s Patrick Mehlert in the 87^th minute sailed high, sealing Liberty’s victory.
      The Flames outshot the Eagles, 11-5, in the contest and had the only corner kick of the game during the opening minutes of the first half.
      Sutarik records his third shutout of the season, making two saves while playing the full 90 minutes between the posts for Liberty.  Knutsen had four saves for American.
      The contest was the final non-conference match for Liberty this season.  The Flames finish the 2012 regular season with seven Big South contests, beginning with a match at Presbyterian College, Friday.  Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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