The Lipscomb men’s soccer team scored four goals in under 20 minutes to beat the Stetson Hatters Sunday afternoon in the ASUN Tournament Semifinal.
With the win, the top-seeded Bisons progress to the conference final Saturday night against Central Arkansas in a rematch of last weekend’s regular season title-clinching overtime win.
Four-seeded Stetson entered with momentum on their side, having beaten Lipscomb in 3-2 the previous meeting between the two this season. The Hatters also knocked Lipscomb out in their most recent tournament matchup in 2019.
The first half threatened more of the same, as the visitors played with more vibrancy in attack than Lipscomb did. The Hatters had the bulk of the goal-scoring chances in the first 45, but a few great opportunities went begging. Stetson took five first-half shots all told, four of which were inside the 6-yard box, but only landed one on target and failed to find the back of the net.
Lipscomb, meanwhile, only managed two shots in an underwhelming first half, not landing a single shot on goal.
The second half, though, quickly changed the narrative. 17-year head coach Charles Morrow was quick to point out the change between the two halves.
“We weren’t creative enough, and we talked a lot about front four movement [at halftime],” Morrow said. “It took a little while–Stetson plays a different shape, and they’re also very good in transition, on counter attacks. The first half was pretty tentative, but I think [the players] had a better feel for it in the second half.”
The better feel was felt instantly by the Bisons, as substitute striker Tyrece Spicer knocked in the opening goal for his team in the 54th minute. A sophomore from Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago, Spicer dove for a header at the far post on a cross from junior attacker Hayes Wood from the right flank. Spicer put his headed effort into the side netting across the face of goal, and with that, Lipscomb was off to the races.
1-0 quickly became 2-0 for Lipscomb, as just two minutes later, Spicer turned provider with a perfectly weighted ball into the box from the left wing. His low through ball found the run of sophomore attacker Javanne Smith, who dispatched the 1-on-1 chance with the goalkeeper and doubled Lipscomb’s lead.
Smith’s third goal of the year was perhaps his most important, giving the Bisons a cushion they were unlikely to let go of.
In the end, they would do the opposite. A straight red card in the 65th minute to Stetson center back Alvaro Gabancho set up the home side to make the margin even greater, and they did not disappoint for the 300+ home crowd.
Attacking midfielder Burl Shepherd got his opportunity to join in on the goalscoring in the 66th minute, becoming the third Lipscomb player to grab a goal and contributing his second on the year. Shepherd, a transfer from Elon and originally from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, found himself inside the box and latched onto Wood’s second assist of the afternoon, only needing to turn and finish in front of goal to give the Bisons a 3-0 advantage.
In the end, it was Spicer who would have the last say, adding one more to the tally for Lipscomb in the 73rd minute when he dispossessed a Stetson defender in the attacking half of the field, beat another opponent on the dribble, and powered a shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box to make it 4-0.
Spicer, who now has eight goals, four match-winning goals, and three assists, was pleased with his response in the second half.
“My mentality changed,” the second-year starter said. “I knew I had to change and go out with a purpose to help my team come up with a victory today. We played amazing, and I’ve just got to continue from here.”
Spicer was confident his team could continue its run of good form into the final against Central Arkansas. “I think we’ve just got to raise the intensity again in training next week,” Spicer said.
On a day in which the attackers earned the plaudits, Morrow also praised a defensive unit for the Bisons that earned its fourth clean sheet of the year despite the loss of senior Scott Gulden to injury last time out.
“I think that the back line did a fantastic job today,” Morrow said. “I think that the combination of [defensive midfielders] Luca Naumann, Carlo Cavalar, and Thomas Priest did a great job in breaking up transition stuff.”
In the end, it’s a positive mentality that the team will bring into the vital weekend matchup with Central Arkansas with ASUN supremacy at stake.
“[It was a] fantastic job, I’m really happy with the shutout, and looking forward to next weekend,” Morrow said.
“Everyone needs to be in their mindset, and I think we’ll come up with a victory,” Spicer said.
The Bisons will play for their first conference championship since 2018 6 pm Saturday at Lipscomb Soccer Complex. The match will be broadcast live on The Bison, Lipscomb’s on-campus radio station.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics