The end of a COVID-induced 441-day offseason began with disappointment for Lipscomb’s women’s soccer team.
The Bisons fell to the Lee University Lady Flames 2-1 in a game that served as a huge boost to the D-II team in its eight-game virus-abbreviated season.
In the early going of the first half, the Lady Bisons came out aggressive and on the attack. They applied pressure to the Lee defense and goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns rose to the occasion with five saves in the first six minutes of the half. The Lady Bisons defense was solid early as well, keeping Lee from attacking the final third of the field with only two shot attempts approaching the 40-minute mark.
The complexion of the first half changed as Lee’s resilient bunch adjusted to Lipscomb’s high press and pieced enough productive touches to set up a Kelsey Yoder goal assisted by Mallory Hayden [40:57]. That 1-0 score would hold going into halftime with the Lady Bisons entering the half as the more aggressive team with very realistic hopes that later shot opportunities would score.
As the second half progressed, Lee looked more poised and confident with the ball and the backline of their defense was stout as well. Lipscomb remained aggressive offensively with six more shot attempts by the 74-minute mark. However, many of those attempts were not challenging shots that led to a few flat-footed saves by Burns.
The aggressive Lady Bison offense was able to capitalize off a corner kick [73:52] and kept the ball in striking distance until Evee Reeder was able to convert a goal for Lipscomb off the assist from Emily Patti [74:37]. The game took on entirely new energy after Lipscomb’s goal, with anticipation of a looming overtime period that would be sure to entertain the fans in attendance.
Lee University had no intentions of staying in the chilling 48-degree weather for extra time as the sun was setting. Nearly six minutes later, after good defensive stands by both teams, Kierstin Havens scored a late goal assisted by Riley Henry with 10 minutes left to go[80:19].
Lipscomb would then play with a higher sense of urgency on offense but to no avail as the Lady Flames defense, which is this team’s strong suit, prevented any late-game heroics in this one. The final score from Lipscomb Soccer Complex saw Lee University take the season opener 2-1. The Lady Bisons will be back in action next Thursday in Murfreesboro to take on the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders.