Final Score: Lipscomb 1, Mercer 1
Location: Mercer, Ga. (Betts Soccer Stadium)
Records:  Lipscomb 7-2-4 (5-0, ASUN), Mercer 5-3-6 (1-1-1, SoCon)
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 48' – Mercer: Carlos Sanamaria (A. Kadeem Agard, Omar Hernandez)
• 54' – Ploutarchos Alonefti (Penalty)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Out of the gate, the Bisons had a majority of the possession and got the first shot of the night in the 4' minute, but Daniel Stampatori's try sailed over the crossbar.
 
The squads settled into the match and the Bisons had a dangerous attack build in the 13' minute when, after a deep Mercer throw in, Alonefti and Malachi Jones were two-on-two with the Bears' defense. On the final pass, however, Jones was called a step offsides and the chance was thwarted. 
 
Mercer had its first good look in the 25' minute when it rocketed a shot from distance that flew wide of the post as the score remained knotted at zero. 
 
In the 30' minute, the Bisons had what looked like a really good scoring opportunity when a cross came in from the left side, but the ball was cleared at the goal line by the defense before the Lipscomb attackers could get a foot on the ball. 
 
With 10 minutes left in the first frame, a host of Bisons charged towards the Mercer net with the ball and got the keeper out of position, but the resulting shot was well wide of frame as the Bisons weren't able to cash in on the chance. 
 
The Bears earned a free kick about five yards outside the box in the 42' minute, but the shot was off target to keep things scoreless. 
 
Mercer got on the board first in the 48' minute, taking a 1-0 lead just after the half. 
 
In the 50' minute, Nick Dang charged ahead with the ball and, as he was about to take a shot, was taken down from behind just a step outside the box, but the resulting shot was saved by the Mercer keeper.
 
In the 54' minute, Javanne Smith charged toward the goal and was taken down from behind and awarded a penalty kick. Alonefti took the penalty and put the ball to the back of the net for a 1-1 game. 
 
With a little bit of momentum, Lipscomb nearly got the go-ahead in the 56' minute when Daniel Stampatori unleased a shot from the right side that skirted just wide of the far post. 
 
The Bisons were the aggressor for the next minutes and had yet another promising opportunity in the 63' minute when Alonefti sent a corner kick in to the head of Nick Dang. His header clanged off the crossbar and back out to Smith. Smith tried to head the ball to the back of the net, but it was to the hands of the Bears' keeper as the match remained level. 
 
Malachi Jones was able to put a shot on frame in the 68' minute but the ball was saved as the Bisons continued to search for the go-ahead goal. 
 
With 10 minutes left, Lipscomb thought it had the go-ahead goal, but the goal was called offsides as the match stayed level. 
 
Despite a relentless attack for the final half hour of the match for the Bisons, Mercer's defense held strong and the Bisons were unable to find the go-ahead goal for a 1-1 road result. 
 
HERD NOTES

• Lipscomb outshot Mercer 18-11 and put five on target. 
• Harrison Gough made four saves in his first ever start for the Bisons. 
• Alonefti has scored in two-consecutive matches. 
• The Bisons are unbeaten in nine matches.

 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will continue its road stint with an ASUN matchup at Stetson on Saturday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT in DeLand, Florida.