Both Lipscomb soccer teams ended their seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament this weekend with a 5-0 loss to FGCU for the women and a 2-1 loss to North Florida for the men.
The girls kept the score even until the 32nd minute of the match up when Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Tabby Tindell headed the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. The Eagles scored again before half leading 2-0.
Florida Gulf Coast added more to the score board in the second half with goals from Paulina Speckmaier, Ally Kasun and Sarah Lowicki.
Senior Alex Hickey, junior Niamh Rawlins and sophomore Jade Abarca were named to the A-Sun All-Tournament Team — the most members Lipscomb has ever placed on the All-Tournament Team.
“I think it is very evident that this program has improved immensely,” Hickey said.
The Lipscomb women’s soccer team was ranked 314th out of 331 NCAA teams when Hickey’s recruiting class came in. This year the Lady Bisons finished 95th in the NCAA RPI.
“The teams work ethic and talent on the field has improved due to the players willingness to commit to the coaches ideal image for the team,” Hickey said.
Lipscomb finished the season with a program-best 12 wins and the Lady Bisons’ first Atlantic Sun postseason win and Finals appearance.
“We have tried very hard to put Lipscomb’s women’s soccer on the map and I am very proud of this team,” Hickey said.
Florida Gulf Coast will be heading to the NCAA tournament and will find out their opponent and location on Monday, Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m.
The men’s soccer finals came down to the 109th minute after a Lipscomb defender fouled Drew Spragg in the box. Lipscomb goalie Micah Bledsoe saved the penalty kick from Helge Pietschmann, but was unable to save the rebounded header that would win the game for the Ospreys.
“We felt good about our chances,” senior Matt Kerridge said. “In a previous match-up we got surprised by [University of North Florida’s] tactics and it resulted in a loss. We knew how to match up with them this time and we came out ready to play.”
The Bisons took the lead in the 19th minute with a goal from Jonathan Ramirez, but was unable to hold University of North Florida who scored 20 minutes later.
“Getting our pressure right was going to be important,” Kerridge said. “We knew it was going to be a battle, but in the end the ball didn’t bounce our way.”
UNF will play USC Upstate for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships on Nov. 14th at 7 p.m. at Hodge Stadium in Jacksonville. This will be UNF’s third-straight Atlantic Sun Finals appearance.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics