The Lipscomb women’s soccer team sports an overall record of 15-4-1 and claimed their third ASUN championship in four years on Saturday evening. Despite this, though, they will be serious underdogs as they head to Knoxville this Friday for the opening round of the 2021 NCAA College Cup. Their task is to take on the SEC champions who are ranked #6 in the country, the Tennessee Lady Vols.
Head coach Kevin O’Brien is excited for this opportunity, and says he is grateful for another week with this special team.
“I told the girls earlier, the pressure is on them [Tennessee],” O’Brien said. “They are ranked 6th in the country at the moment…. we just go in there and have fun. Play in freedom, go in and enjoy it.”
He has confidence his squad can pull off an upset.
“This is one of those sports where it is very unpredictable,” O’Brien said. “If we are able to take a goal or two and be stingy defensively, we can walk away with a win, which is exciting.”
Emanuela Schurch, who now has three rings under her belt at Lipscomb, is more than ready for this game.
“I am definitely so excited because we are the underdog and no one expects us to win,” Luzern, Switzerland-born attacking midfielder Emanuela Schurch said.
“I feel like we can’t lose anything. If we lose, okay; nothing else was expected. But if we win, it’s huge. We are ready and we won’t back down from a fight.” Schurch said.
Senior striker Kammy McGee, who scored the goal in the ASUN Championship that got the Bisons to this point, is equally elated for this Friday’s game.
“I am stoked. I wanna throw up when I think about it, but I’m so excited,” the Collierville native said. “I’m confident in this team of course. I wanna win so badly and I know we can.”
O’Brien said he has always known there is something special about this team and it shows in every area.
“There’s a unity that is built through the bond of their friendships that definitely plays out on the soccer field,” O’Brien said. “This group… is just a really tight-knit, bunch of friends getting to play the game they love together and you see it play out on the field.”
This match will be the second ever meeting between the two teams. The first was in 2015 and it ended with a 0-0 tie in overtime.
Friday’s match will be broadcast live on The Bison, Lipscomb’s on-campus radio station. Coverage will start at 3:50 pm Central ahead of a 4 pm kickoff from Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics