FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Lipscomb men’s soccer team fell on the road at ASUN rival FGCU on Saturday night 3-2 at the FGCU Soccer Complex. 

“I was proud how we battled back and made it a game in the second half,” Lipscomb men’s soccer head coach Charles Morrow said. “But I really challenged the guys at the end of the game about the way they approached the game and their first half performance.” 

The Eagles got on the board first, as O’Vonte Mullings notched a score in the 22nd minute off an assist from Ryan Medilah. 

“Not to take anything away from Florida Gulf Coast. They’re a good team and a dangerous team,” Morrow said. “But, in the first half the game just happened to us rather than stepping out and trying to put a mark on the game and taking control of the game. 

“Which is really uncharacteristic of how we would like to play, but it seems that that has happened more often this season than it has in the past in terms of how we start a game.” 

FGCU made it 2-0 just before halftime as Noah Bushey set up Aiden Jokomba in the 42nd minute. 

“We said at halftime a comeback was possible,” Morrow said. “I said we thought we definitely had three goals in us in the second half, but got opened up there and ended up giving up the third to them.” 

The Bisons answered with a big goal in the 58th minute as freshman Killian Byrne cut the Eagles lead to 2-1. The goal was Byrne’s second off the bench in the second half so far this season.  

“Killian just continues to impress,” Morrow said. “I thought tonight he was probably one of our more consistent players. I think if he can string some performances together like that, he’ll play more and more for us for sure.”

Lipscomb spent the next 20 minutes searching for an equalizer, but the Eagles found a third in the 81st as Mullings scored his second of the night.

The Purple and Gold nearly pulled off the frantic comeback thanks to a timely goal from sophomore Ryan Dougherty, set up from fellow sophomore Louis Robinson in the 89th minute. But, the Bisons finished a goal short as time expired. 

“Ryan has played so well for us, and goals just haven’t come,” Morrow said. “It’s nice to see that those are starting to come. And we need more of that from him.”

Byrne and Dougherty became the first two Bisons to score more than once on the season so far. 

Lipscomb will fall to 2-5-1 as FGCU improves to 4-5-2. 

“It was a really disappointing first half,” Morrow said. “The players have to do a better job of making sure that doesn’t happen again, and the coaches likewise.” 

QUICK KICKS:

• Defender Chase Carraher made his first career start. 
• Robinson was assessed a yellow card less than a minute into the action, while Dougherty was given a yellow after his goal. 
• Robinson’s assist was his first of the season. 
• Redshirt-freshman Alex Brown made two saves in goal, moving his season total to 15.
• Brown, Daniel Muhlbauer, junior Ben Locke, and sophomores Noah and Scott Gulden went the full 90 minutes for Lipscomb. 
• The Eagles out-shot the Bisons 17-15, while each team took five shots on goal. 
• Senior John Wynia led Lipscomb with five shots and two shots on goal. 
• One Jacksonville player was assessed a yellow card in addition to Sibley’s red. 
• Lipscomb earned four corners to FGCU’s three. 

NEXT: Lipscomb will have a quick turnaround as they face Georgia State on Tuesday in Nashville at 7 p.m. 

“I think it’s a chance for us to get better,” Morrow said. “It’s an opportunity for our team to show that we can do better. 

“It’s an important game, because we are at a critical point in the season where if individuals don’t get out of their own way, we could go in a bad way. But, I really do feel like if guys believe in themselves and the players around them, we’re certainly a capable team that should be contending to win another championship.”