Box Score NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb (0-1) women’s soccer team started off the 2017 regular season with a loss on Friday night as they fell to Western Kentucky (1-0) 2-0 at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
WKU struck early as freshman Tally Bishop slotted in a goal off of an assist from senior Chandler Backes in the 5th minute of action.
The two players swapped spots for the Hilltoppers’ second goal as Backes netted a score from a Bishop delivery in the 65th minute.
After a slow start to the game, the Bisons spent the final moments of the first half attacking WKU’s defense. Junior Brooke Brenner ricocheted a ball off the crossbar just before the halftime buzzer sounded, giving Lipscomb its best chance at a goal in the half.
Senior Kate Mason made her first regular season start in the goal, notching three saves in each half for a total of six.
QUICK HITS:
- This was the sixth matchup between the two schools in the Division I era. Lipscomb has yet to defeat WKU.
- Freshman Olivia Doak led the Bisons with four shots.
- Lipscomb and WKU tied with 14 shots each, but the Hilltopppers had a 8-3 shots on goal advantage.
- The Bisons earned nine corner kicks to Upstate’s three.
- Senior Natalie DuBoise was cited for a yellow card in the 73rd
- Hannah Torbett, Alliyah Parker, and Kaitlin Echols each made their first appearances in the Purple and Gold.
Head Coach Kevin O’Brien’s Thoughts:
“We knew Western was going to be a really tough game, and it proved to be exactly that.
"They quite honestly came out of the gates a lot sharper than we did and got an early goal. And that made it difficult for us. That let them play the way that they play really well, which is a 3-5-2, but oftentimes has five in the back.
“They’re very organized and hard to break down. In the end, they applied their attack a little bit better than we did and they were able to take advantage of the matchups. It wasn’t a lack of effort. I don’t think we were as sharp as we’re capable of being.
“We turned the ball over far too much. We didn’t create the chances that we usually do.
"Again, I tip my hat to Western. I really attribute it to them playing well, not necessarily us being poor.”
UP NEXT: The Bisons will travel to Alabama to take on No. 10 Auburn on Sunday at 6 p.m. It will be the first road game of the regular season for Lipscomb.
