Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Georgia State 3
Location: Atlanta, Ga. (GSU Soccer Complex)
Records: Lipscomb 3-2-2, Georgia State 3-2-3
SCORING SUMMARY
HOW IT HAPPENED
Scoring began early in Tuesday's match when Georgia State took an early lead. As the sides were settling into the match, the Panthers took advantage of an attack to find the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 8' minute.
After the goal, Lipscomb began to see more possession and connect passes in the midfield.
In the 13' minute,
Malachi Jones earned a free kick in a dangerous spot to the right of the box. On the resulting free kick, Spicer put a shot on frame that was punched across the touch line by the Panthers' keeper. Spicer also took the resulting corner and the ball found a wide open
Ploutarchos Alonefti just outside the top of the box, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
The Bisons nearly equalized in the 26' minute when
Nick Dang got a head on the end of a corner kick service, but the header banged off the post.
Lipscomb stayed on the offensive and
Tyrese Spicer beat a pair of defenders up the left-hand side and hammered a left footed shot in the 30' minute from a nearly impossible angle that clanged just off the far post as the Bisons continued to search for the equalizer.
The equalizer finally came for the Bisons in the 35' minute. After a Georgia State corner kick, Lipscomb launched a lightning-quick counter attack. Spicer won the ball in Lipscomb's defensive third and played a long ball over the top for a streaking
Malachi Jones. Once support came to the box, Jones played the ball from the right of the box to Alonefti who laid the ball off to Spicer at the penalty spot. Spicer slotted a left-footed shot past the keeper for a 1-1 game.
The Panthers nearly scored the go-ahead goal in the 40' minute, but
Juan Carlos Rodriguez made as good of a save as you'll see when he got a fingertip to a sharply struck ball that was heading inside the back post.
With the pace picking up in the final five minutes of the half, both squads had good chances, but neither connected as the match was tied 1-1 at halftime.
After a scoreless first 15 minutes of the second frame, Lipscomb earned another good opportunity in the 60' minute when
Malachi Jones won a free kick just outside the box. Alonefti stood over the free kick, but his shot banged off the wall and the Lipscomb opportunity was thwarted.
The Bisons netted the go-ahead goal in the 67' minute when it built an attack from the right side when
Tyler Stinnett whipped a ball just in front of goal.
Cooper Kieran volleyed a shot that clanged off the crossbar, but
Javanne Smith followed the shot and easily put the rebound in the back of the net for a 2-1 Lipscomb advantage.
The Bisons stayed on the attack and netted another in the 69' minute from the foot of
Malachi Jones. The sophomore had the ball in the box with his back to the goal and was able to turn his body and put his lethal right foot on the ball and hit a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and in for a 3-1 advantage.
Georgia State, however, chipped away at the Lipscomb lead with a goal at the 72' minute mark when it was awarded a penalty kick after a handball was called in the box. The penalty was converted as the Panthers cut the lead 3-2.
The Panthers continued to search for the equalizer and leveled things yet again in the 81' minute with a spectacular volley goal for a 3-3 match with less than 10 minutes to play.
Seth Highfield had a great chance to put Lipscomb ahead yet again in the 83' minute when Spicer played a cross just in front of goal, but Highfield's shot was saved by the Panthers keeper to keep things knotted.
Neither team was able to find the game-winner as the teams drew 3-3 for a point each.
HERD NOTES
- Shots were tied 16-16 in the match.
- Lipscomb has earned results in its last four matches.
- The Bisons have scored 10 goals in its last three matches.
- Rodriguez made four saves.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will continue ASUN play on Saturday, Sept. 30 against Central Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT at Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
