Cards Defeat Liberty 12-10

Tuesday, April 1

Louisville, Ky.

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

6-7

Liberty

8-4

LIBERTY

Louisville

April 01, 2025 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Post Game Interview with Coach Scott Teeter, Ashley Osborne and Reese Whiteman

Reese Whiteman's four goals lead Louisville to a 12-10 win over Liberty

By: Nathan Larson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville lacrosse team defeated the Liberty 12-10 at Louisville Lacrosse Stadium on a brisk, sunny Tuesday afternoon at UofL Lacrosse Stadium.

The Cards (6-7) bested the Lady Flames (8-4) in a tight, back-and-forth matchup that featured four ties and two lead changes. Seven different players scored for Louisville with a four-goal performance from Reese Whiteman leading the way. Charlotte Jackson and Izzy Seikel added two goals apiece while Rian Adkins and Maggie McMahon each chipped in a goal and two assists. Lauren Figas also registered a goal and an assist.

"I thought today was a really intense, tough lacrosse game" said UofL head coach Scott Teeter. "I thought both teams played really physical, [with] a lot of aggression and a lot of pressure. You didn't have much time to move or think out there, that led to turnovers. We made some adjustments at halftime and put some things together. Starting with the draws in the second half, [we] fixed our clearing game a little bit in the second half and that led to more offensive possessions and that led to more shots. We made enough plays to win the game today."

Whiteman opened the scoring at 3:47 into the first period, with an assist from Cece Reilly. Just over a minute later, Seikel struck again for Louisville for her 12th goal of the year, putting the Cards up 2-0.

Liberty got on the board with 10:15 gone in the first with a goal by Taiva Robertson. Louisville answered quickly with a power-play goal from Adkins, made possible by a green card on Liberty's Cami Merkel. The end of the first period left the Cards up 3-1 and in control.

Opening the second period scoring was the Flames with Kendall Coss bringing Liberty within one off a free-position goal 2:36 into the second period. Four minutes later Whiteman put away her second of the day on a free-position goal, with Erin Nicholson scoring her seventh of the year 20 seconds later. With the Cards up 5-2, Liberty fired back with a pair of goals from Mackenzie Lehman and Ava Rajala to cut the Cards' lead to 5-4 heading into halftime.

Louisville struck immediately out of the break, with Jackson putting UofL up 6-4 just 1:26 into the third period. Rajala responded for Liberty a minute later, once again bringing the Flames within one, 6-5. McMahon then ripped one past Hines for her eighth goal on the year 3:45 into the period to put UofL up by two once more.

This sparked a three-goal flurry from Liberty, with Rajala securing her hat-trick and Merkel and Celena Kerr tallying their lone goals of the contest. With Liberty now up 8-7, Whiteman scored back-to-back goals to singlehandedly give UofL the lead, 9-8.

However, a late period goal from Liberty's Coss would bring the game back to even heading into the final period at 9-9.

The Lady Flames broke the deadlock 2:54 into the fourth due to Lehman's second on the day. UofL's Jackson retaliated with a goal 4:12 into the fourth to tie the game back up at 10 apiece.

A goal from Seikel would be the game-winner 8:58 into the period and put the Cards up 11-10. Just 90 seconds later, Figas would add the insurance goal to ice the game 12-10 Louisville for her 16th on the year. The Cardinals' held the rest of the way and earn the victory over the Flames 12-10.

Goalie J Pleck earned the win, making six saves and limiting Liberty to 10 goals. Louisville outshot Liberty 37-25 with a 25-16 advantage in shots on goal. Olivia Scroggie led the Cards with four draw controls. Figas recorded the most shots for the Cards with nine, while adding a goal and three draw controls. UofL's defense proved tough with 13 caused turnovers led by Ashley Osborne's three.

Liberty goalie Hines made 13 saves, with a .520 save percentage. Pacing Liberty in goals was Rajala with three, while Lehman and Coss both had two goals each.

Up next for UofL is a game in Charlottesville, Va. this Saturday against the No. 9-ranked Virginia Cavaliers (7-4, 3-3 ACC). The game is set to begin at noon and will be broadcast on ACCNX.