The Lipscomb women’s soccer team lost 3-0 in the first round of the 2021 NCAA College Cup to the Tennessee Lady Vols at Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville.
In only their fifth loss all year, the Bisons were let down by errors at unfortunate times and ultimately outclassed by the sixth-best team in the nation.
The opening period of play belonged to Tennessee, as only a slew of saves from sophomore goalkeeper CJ Graham kept the Lady Vols from scoring within the first 10 minutes. Graham faced 16 shots over the course of the match and made 5 saves.
A screamer from outside the box was what it took to beat the nation’s leading goalkeeper in clean sheets with 13, and that was what Abbey Burdette provided for the home side in the 28th minute. That 1-0 lead would hold into the halftime break.
“I think in the first half, we were a little frazzled,” Cami Rogers, a junior midfielder from Prattville, Alabama, said. “In the locker room and going into the second half, we were like, ‘okay, it’s 1-0. We can play with them, and we can do this.’ I think we think we saw that in the second half. “
“Two unfortunate goals happened, but that’s okay, that’s just part of the game,” the Auburn transfer said. “But I’m thankful to do it with this team.”
Indeed, the Bisons battled back and showed resilience and creativity in the attack as the second half started. True freshman Shadia Valenzuela caused problems for the Bisons up front, providing hold-up play that kept the Bisons in possession after a first half where they found themselves against the ropes and defending more than attacking.
The Bisons’ attacking momentum came to a climax when fourth-year sophomore striker Kammy McGee latched onto a through ball that split Tennessee’s center backs and put McGee through to a 1-on-1 chance with the goalkeeper. Before she could release a shot, though, the offside flag was raised.
That was the closest Lipscomb would come to equalizing on a cold Friday evening in Knoxville, as the home team pushed the gas pedal and found a fortunate second goal to put the result just out of reach. An error in communication between Graham and Birmingham, Alabama-born center back Logan McFadden led to a tap-in goal in the 74th minute.
54 seconds later, the Lady Vols put away the third goal of the day with a sweet strike from inside the box to put the game beyond doubt.
Lipscomb played with heart for the final quarter-hour, but they were second best on the day and fell short against Power 5 conference opposition for only the second time in four matches this year.
“As far as the game goes, slow start by the Bisons,” 10th-year head coach Kevin O’Brien, who earned his 100th Lipscomb win this season, said. “I think the moment kind of caught us a little bit and then we kind of settled into the game. They were the better team the first half, without a doubt,” O’Brien said.
“I thought the beginning of the second half we looked really good. So, for 20 minutes we were more dangerous than we had been the whole first half. Had a little bit of momentum and then it plays the way soccer is sometimes. They score a good goal and I think there’s a little miscommunication between the center back and the goalkeeper. In that ultimately, I think took the wind out of the sails,” O’Brien said.
Sophomore defensive midfielder and two-time ASUN Defender of the Year Shelby Craft was more focused on the opportunity of the moment than the disappointing result. “We perform for something so much bigger than ourselves,” Craft said. “Looking up into the stands and seeing how many people were up there, it’s really cool to be able to reflect back that a small, faith-based school is standing on a field and our competitive (spirit) is going to make people question why they want to work so hard and how they compete for each other.”
“I think it’s just super awesome that we got the opportunity to play in front of a crowd that large and to have the support that we did,” Craft, a transfer from Penn State, said. “It just speaks measures about the Lipscomb community and the sport back home.”
With the loss, Lipscomb’s season ends and the Bisons will now prepare for next fall. Tennessee progresses to the second round of the College Cup and will host Washington State at Regal Soccer Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics