Final Score: Lipscomb: 1, Central Arkansas: 0
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Lipscomb Soccer Complex)
Records: Lipscomb: 10-3-2 (5-2-0 ASUN), Jacksonville: 10-5-0 (5-2-0 ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY: Javanne Smith's 98' minute golden-goal strike led Lipscomb to a 1-0 victory over Central Arkansas in the final regular season match of the 2021 campaign. Saturday's senior night win earned the Bisons a share of the Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming ASUN Championship.
GOAL SUMMARY:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The match was a defensive battle from the start with most of the action coming in the midfield for the first several minutes.
In the final minutes of the first frame, the Bisons threatened when
Hayes Wood got a head on corner service by
Noah Gulden. His shot went just wide, and the match remained scoreless at the halftime break.
The second half was much like the first and both defenses held strong keeping each offense from good looks on goal.
Lipscomb started to gain momentum towards the end of the second half, starting to break down the Bears' defense. In the 77' minute,
Hayes Wood again asserted his dominance as he rose for another header that went wide.
Tyrese Spicer nearly found a go-ahead goal in the 83' minute when he got around his defender to direct a shot on frame. The UCA keeper was there to make the save and keep the stalemate intact.
After 90' minutes of scoreless play, the squads continued to overtime with massive conference implications on the line.
The Bisons controlled much of the overtime period and finally broke through in the 98' minute. After a streaking run up the right side,
Noah Gulden played a cross into the box.
Alejandro Lopez flicked the ball to Smith who was waiting at the far post. Smith buried his second goal of the season and perhaps the biggest of his career, for the golden-goal winner.
With the victory, the Bisons secured the No. 1 overall seed in the ASUN Championship and a share of the Regular Season Championship.
THOUGHTS FROM THE BENCH:
Honore Kalala on posting a shutout on senior night to win share of the Regular Season Title
"We didn't play the most beautiful soccer today. However, the feeling of getting a clean sheet and winning the game is always the best for us defenders."
NOTABLE:
- Sibley directed the Lipscomb defense to its third shutout of the season.
- Lipscomb outshot the Bears 12-9.
- The Bisons defense held Central Arkansas to no shots on frame.
- Noah Gulden dished out his conference-leading seventh assist.
UP NEXT:
The Bisons will begin postseason play on Sunday, November 7 with the ASUN Championship Semifinal match between the winner of No. 4 Stetson and No. 5 Liberty. The match will be held at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex at 2 p.m. CT.
