It’s been a long time coming, but the Lipscomb men’s soccer team can finally look forward to a full season of soccer.
In all likelihood, it will be a season well worth the wait, as head coach Charles Morrow is optimistic about the Bisons’ squad this year. He says he’s especially excited about the mix of veteran leaders and youthful exuberance within the team.
“We’re younger upfront [than last year] and more veteran in defense. If you had to choose, that would probably be the way to go.”
One of the reasons the Bisons are so experienced on the backline is Nottingham, England native Louis Robinson’s positional move. After playing mainly forward last year, he and his attacking prowess are moving to the left-back position. With attack-minded fullback Noah Gulden occupying the right-back position, there’s a lot of expectation being placed on the outside defenders to create attacking chances for the Bisons.
Alongside those two junior fullbacks are returning starter Honore Kalala and junior Scott Gulden, occupying the starting center back slots. It’s a quality back four that knows what they’re capable of, so expect some clean sheets for the Bisons this year.
Meanwhile, as Coach Morrow alluded to, there are plenty of new faces in the attacking ranks. Javanne Smith is a freshman who joins Lipscomb from Chesterfield FC, a club in the 5th tier of the English soccer system. “Javanne is a forward for us that we expect to have a big year as a freshman,” Coach Morrow said when asked about freshmen to expect big things from.
Another freshman forward in the mix is Tyrece Spicer, a Trinidad and Tobago international who’s appeared for the island nation’s senior national team. Spicer scored a goal in his first-ever appearance for Lipscomb, racking up three shots on target in the Bisons’ preseason match versus UAB. Spicer’s early goal-scoring success and national team experience point to a player advanced beyond his years.
Add young yet proven commodities in sophomores Hayes Wood and Alejandro Lopez to the equation, and the Bisons have an attacking force to be reckoned with. Lopez played in 15 matches last year, starting in five of those and notching an assist in his first year. He has experience in his native Costa Rica with the youth academies of national giants Deportivo Saprissa and Club Sport Herediano. Wood also appeared in 15 matches last season and started in four. He grabbed a goal and an assist for the Bisons last year and will look to add to his numbers in both those categories for the Purple and Gold in 2021.
The Bisons landed one Preseason All-Conference award in the ASUN via Noah Gulden, tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Despite this and a 2nd-place ranking in the coaches poll, Coach Morrow feels Lipscomb will have plenty more representation in the postseason awards than they were given in the preseason.
The Bisons went through their two-game exhibition stretch undefeated, including a 2-0 win over Southern Conference opponents Mercer and a 1-1 draw against Conference USA’s UAB. The Bisons kick off the regular season with a home tilt against the Evansville Purple Aces at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex. It’s one of six home matches on the schedule for the team, not including an away game against local rival Belmont up the street.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb athletics.