Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No. 2 Lipscomb Men's Soccer fell 4-2 to No. 1 Jacksonville Thursday evening at Southern Oaks Stadium in ASUN semifinal action.
Despite owning possession and shot total, the Bisons were unable to overcome an early deficit.
Jacksonville scored early and often to take a 3-0 lead with goals in the 6' minute, 8' minute and 23' minute.
The BIsons started to settle in and peppered the Dolphins' goal with shots to put the Dolphins on their heels.
In the 18' minute, Lipscomb mounted a good buildup that ended with a good look for
Noah Gulden, but his shot was blocked.
In the 29' minute, the Bisons nearly broke through when
Scott Gulden directed a shot on frame that forced a Jacksonville save.
Knowing it needed a strike before the end of the half, Lipscomb turned up the pressure in the final minutes of the first 45.
Hayes Wood beat the Dolphins' back line in the 41' minute and rocketed a shot that looked like it might find the top corner, but it banged off the woodwork and out of play.
The breakthrough finally came in the 44' minute for the Bisons as
William Turner unleashed a rocket from distance that beat the keeper to cut the lead 3-1. This was the first time an opponent scored against Jacksonville at Southern Oak Stadium this season.
Even though the score didn't reflect it, Lipscomb went into the halftime break leading in most statistical categories. The Bisons had outshot Jacksonville 14-6 and earned three corner kicks to the Dolphins' one. Lipscomb put four goals on target in the first half, forcing three saves by Levy.
The Dolphins scored the first goal of the second half in the 61' minute on a set piece for a 4-1 lead.
Javanne Smith nearly netted another for the Bisons in the 63' minute when he turned and struck, finding the Jacksonville keeper out of position. A Dolphins defender, however, was able to clear the ball off the line to keep the shot from finding the back of the net.
Tyrese Spicer heated up in Lipscomb's final third with back-to-back shots in the 73' and 75' minutes but was just missing the final finish.
Lipscomb's second-half luck changed in the 79' minute as
Alejandro Lopez gave the Bisons new life as he punched one home to cut the Jacksonville lead 4-2.
The Bisons were unable to overcome the deficit as its ASUN Tournament run came to a close in the semifinal match.
Lipscomb finished the season 6-5-2 and a 1-2-1 mark I ASUN play.
