Bisons explode in second half to knock off Mercer, 3-1

Tuesday, October 26

Lipscomb Soccer Complex

6:00 PM

Lipscomb University

9-4-2, 4-2-0

Mercer

7-7-1, 3-1-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Mercer	0	1	1
Lipscomb	0	3	3

Bisons explode in second half to knock off Mercer, 3-1

10/26/2021 9:32:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Final Score: Lipscomb: 3, Mercer 1
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Lipscomb Soccer Complex)
Records: Lipscomb, 9-3-2 (4-2-0 ASUN), Mercer, 7-7-1 (3-1-1 SOCON)

THE SHORT STORY: In a match that was scoreless at the half, Lipscomb exploded for three goals in the final 45 minutes to knock off Mercer 3-1 in the final nonconference contest of the season. The win snapped a 4-game winning streak for the Bears.

GOAL SUMMARY:

Lipscomb took a quick 1-0 lead in the 50^th minute when Alejandro Lopez found the back of the net.
Tyrese Spicer doubled the lead 10 minutes later with a strike at the 59:25 mark.
Mercer got on the board in the 63^rd minute to make it 2-1 Bisons.
Marlon Grossman netted a goal in the 88^th minute to secure the 3-1 win for the purple and gold.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a first half that saw the Bisons put just two shots on goal, it didn't take long in the second half for Lipscomb to find pay dirt.

With the ball down in front of the home bench, Bakary Bagayoko received a pass and played a quick touch down the sideline to a streaking Javanne Smith. As the sophomore drew the defenders into the box, Smith found Lopez all alone at the top of the 18-yard box, who then laced a right-footed rocket past the diving keeper to the middle of the net at the 49:38 mark.

We see you @a_1l0pez ????#IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/YC0WWIMKLq
— Lipscomb Men's Soccer (@LipscombMSOC) October 27, 2021

The purple and gold doubled its lead in the 60^th minute when Spicer, who after finding Smith from a crowded midfield, sprinted to the front of the pack to set up the scoring opportunity. Smith played a ball around the Mercer defender for Spicer who dribbled to just outside the corner of the six-yard box before slotting a left-footed shot past the keeper and into the right side of the net for a 2-0 lead.

???Feeling Spicy ???#IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/CQBOhbIYKp
— Lipscomb Men's Soccer (@LipscombMSOC) October 27, 2021

Mercer responded three minutes later after a Bear got behind Lipscomb's defense and beat the keeper from 15 yards out.

The Bisons sealed the win in the 88^th minute when Grossman found himself with the ball 8-yards out and fired a shot under the leg of a defender and between two other Bears to the back right corner of the net to make it 3-1.

NOTABLE:

The Bisons outshot Mercer 20-14 overall and 10-8 in shots on goal.
Keeper Michael Sibley matched his career high with seven saves. He leads the ASUN Conference with 49 stops on the season.
Smith's two assists were a career high as he now has four on the year.
The goals for Lopez and Grossman were their second of the season. The Bisons now have eight players with two or more scores.
Spicer's strike was his sixth of the season, matching Hayes Wood for most on the team.
Eight Bisons attempted shots on the night with Smith and Lopez leading the way with four apiece.

UP NEXT:
Lipscomb will close out the regular season on Saturday at 6 p.m. when it hosts Central Arkansas for senior day. A win over the Bears, coupled with a loss or draw from Stetson, would give the Bisons the top seed in next week's ASUN Championship.