SCORE: #17 UAlbany 4, #14 Liberty 2
 
LOCATION: Alumni Turf - Albany, N.Y.
 
RECORDS: #17 UAlbany 8-1, 2-0 America East | #14 Liberty 5-4, 1-1 Big East
 
SHORT STORY: Alison Smisdom led the Great Danes with three goals in a 4-2 victory over #14 Liberty, Sunday afternoon.
 
COACH PHIL SYKES: "[This win] feels fantastic. [Liberty is a] fantastic team. We wanted to really focus on our conference match Friday - that was the main priority - and to get through a tough UMass Lowell team was a great effort. Such a quality Liberty team - they've been in the national finals and are good every year - very tough, disciplined, and well-coached. I loved how our team dealt with adversity and challenges out there - they stayed calm and patient, trusting each other … they completed an unbelievably fantastic weekend."
 
KEY STATS

• Senior Alison Smisdom led with three goals for her third hat trick of the season.
• Freshman Lotje Ligthart added one goal and one assist.
• As a team, the Great Danes outshot Liberty, 11-5, with an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a quick start to the game as both teams had scored one goal in just three minutes of action.
• Lotje Ligthart started the scoring in the second minute with an unassisted goal. The midfielder grabbed the rebound off her own shot to score during a penalty corner.
• The Flames answered just over a minute later to tie the game at one with 11:54 on the first-quarter clock.
• UAlbany earned a two-goal in the second quarter.
• With a 4-0 advantage in shots, the Great Danes added two goals from Alison Smisdom.
• About halfway through the quarter, UAlbany earned their first penalty stroke of the game. Smisdom lifted the ball into the top left corner of the net for the go-ahead goal.
• The senior extended the Great Danes' lead about four minutes later during a penalty corner. With an insert from Ligthart, Smisdom made the shot from the angle.
• After halftime, the two teams traded possession of the ball. UAlbany held a small advantage, 2-1, in shots.
• Liberty quickly opened the fourth quarter with their second goal to close the scoring gap to one.
• About two minutes later, with energy on their side, the Flames earned a penalty corner while Smisdom was sitting off the field with a card. 
• The Great Danes defense held off the shot and quickly turned the tide.
• Less than 30 seconds after the Flames' shot, sophomore Mara Küskes drew a penalty stroke. Smisdom made it 2-2 in strokes and scored her third goal of the game to put the Great Danes up, 4-2, with about 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
• Liberty earned a final chance at a goal with a penalty stroke at 57:44. In what proved to be the last action at either net, senior goalkeeper Lara Behn stopped the shot with her hands.

 
NEXT: The Great Danes will get ready for a split weekend as they head to Hofstra (10.4) before hosting UConn (10.6) for their Mental Health Awareness game.

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