NASHVILLE – The top-seeded Lipscomb men’s soccer team advances to the ASUN Championship Final for the second year in a row after toppling No. 4 Jacksonville, 2-1, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.

The Bisons will face No. 6 Stetson next Saturday, Nov. 10 in the title match after the Hatters upset No. 2 FGCU 5-4 in PK’s this evening in Fort Myers, Florida.

Lipscomb (8-9-0) got on the scoreboard first in the 13^th minute when Ben Locke drilled a rocket into the left side of the net from near 20 yards out on top of the box. Defender Austin Eager set the score up with a pass over the crowd from the far side of the pitch.

Just two minutes later it was Jacksonville’s (5-13-0) turn. The Dolphins buried an equalizer from the 6-yard box as the ball trickled past keeper Chris Zappia. Reed Davis flicked it over the charging Zappia and slotted into the net at 14:24.

Despite a number of good looks, the teams played the final 30 minutes of the opening half scoreless.

The second half continued with back-and-forth play until Jacksonville’s John Levy misplayed a deflected ball at the top of the box. Levy leaped over the ball with no touch and it left freshman Zarek Jakubowski a wide open net to finish in from 15 yards away.

As play intensified, the Dolphins began searching for an equalizer. They nearly cashed one in late in the match, but a header went off the crossbar and back to the Bisons for a clearance.

Lipscomb’s defense held on for victory and secured its spot in the second ASUN Final for the second season in a row.

QUICK KICKS

• The Bisons have now won three consecutive matches in the ASUN Championship by a score of 2-1.
• Lipscomb outshot JU 18-8 overall and 7-2 in shots on goal. That tied their second-most shots in a game this season. 
• Locke’s score was his second goal of the season. His other came against FGCU on Sept. 29.
• Jakubowski netted his second career goal, both of which have served as game-winners. His other came at North Florida on Oct. 6 in his first career game.
• Freshman Louis Robinson led the way for the Bisons with four shots and two on goal.
• Zappia finished with one save while earning his league-leading eighth victory of the year. He has now won seven straight decisions in net.
• 15 players saw the pitch for Lipscomb in the win.