Two free kick goals from Conti highlight 28-shot performance by Liberty
Greenville, SC (June 18, 2022) – The Greenville Liberty continued its torrid offensive pace on Saturday night, thumping Wake FC 4-0 at Legacy Early College to continue the club’s perfect home record. Clemson’s Caroline Conti scored two free kick goals in the first half, with the Liberty amassing a whopping 28 shots in the contest.
Following an exhaustive 9-day, 3-match stint, the Greenville Liberty finally saw the pitch again with a full week of rest as they began Saturday night’s match, which was presented by The Blood Connection. From the whistle, the Liberty was confident in its attack, sending runners into Wake’s defending third. Greenville got on the board early, as nine minutes into the match, Liberty leading scorer, Caroline Conti finished a set piece just outside the 18-yard box to give the home side the 1-0 lead. Just ten minutes after Conti’s first goal, she found the top corner of the net with a sublime free kick to double the Liberty lead.
Despite subbing off Conti and forward Dubem Dike at the half, the Liberty attack continue to press in the second half. Greenville nearly added to the lead in the 64th minute when Julie Mackin served a perfect cross to Sami Meredith that was denied in a highlight reel save by Wake’s keeper. If there was any doubt to the outcome of the match, it was erased in the 83rd minute when the Liberty’s Christian Brathwaite powered in a cross from Bailey Manfredi to stretch the lead to three. Auburn’s Carly Thatcher added a fourth for the Liberty in stoppage time, and the Greenville defense preserved the shutout to earn a convincing 4-0 victory.
“I’m just really proud of the group overall,” said head coach Julie Carlson. “We brought in some new players into the roster since we were missing some players, and I thought everybody just did a really good job all the way from the starting 11 to the players that came in as substitutes.”
The Liberty hit the road to face the North Carolina Courage next Saturday night before returning to the Upstate on Tuesday, June 28th for the club’s regular season home finale at 7:00 PM.