NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb women’s soccer team participated in a friendly match Thursday afternoon, drawing with the Vanderbilt Commodores 1-1.
The result was an improvement on last year’s meeting between the cross-town rivals, with Vanderbilt taking the most recent contest 2-0 on September 9, 2021.
A ragtag referee crew of assistant coaches wearing neon pinnies officiated the first 25 minutes of the match before a licensed center official arrived at Lipscomb Soccer Complex. The contest was played in a modified format with two 30-minute halves.
The lineup that took the field was familiar in terms of personnel for the Purple and Gold, as head coach Kevin O’Brien started his best lineup for the offseason tilt. It did feature a new formation, though, mainly looking like a 3-5-2 with a defensive midfielder.
“In the first period, I loved [the 3-5-2 formation],” O’Brien said. “Against Vanderbilt’s 3-5-2 we looked really, really dangerous and created a lot of great chances. When they advanced their full backs higher, it caused us trouble,” O’Brien said.
While a few poor touches and missed passes were present, the game largely resembled the caution and precision of a regular-season match.
Neither side could gain much traction offensively in the first frame, but Vanderbilt did manage three shots, all of which were off target.
In the 22nd minute, the Commodores had their best chance early on with a cutback from the right flank finding an awaiting striker in the box. The first-time effort went well over the bar to keep the scores level.
The Bisons took one shot in the first period which came on a header inside the six-yard box. A quality service came in from the right corner flag, but the headed shot couldn’t beat the Vanderbilt goalkeeper.
Darkness and a light rain fell in tandem as the second period started, and the defensive stalemate continued. Forward Molly Grant took a Vanderbilt defender off her dribble and won the ball in a dangerous area in the 42nd minute, but her shot from distance was wide.
The 48th minute brought the breakthrough for the away side, with a strike from the edge of the box finding the upper left corner to beat sophomore CJ Graham.
Lipscomb would respond with seconds left in the second period of play, as defender-turned-midfielder Alivia Carapazza stole the ball in the attacking third and turned to find the back of the net from 20 yards out.
“We moved Alivia Carapazza into the midfield, never had played there really in her career,” O’Brien said. “She’s the got the skillset to do it, and that’s one thing–she can strike a ball about as good as anybody I’ve seen in women’s soccer.”
With each team having scored, the third period was the decider. Both teams suffered from fatigue, though, and neither side could create much as a result.
Graham made a point-blank save inside 10 minutes to play to keep Vanderbilt from the win, but Lipscomb had little left in the tank at the other end.
Nothing could separate the two sides in the dying embers of the contest, leaving the result at 1-1 and the spoils shared.
“I think a 1-1 draw is probably the right result,” O’Brien said. “We’ve had three really strong spring games, and we’re getting better. I talk to the girls about, ‘Hey, it’s not about the result. It’s about the process and trying to just improve each and every game.'”
The Bisons head to Cookeville for their next match at 6 p.m. on April 13 at Tennessee Tech as they continue spring offseason play.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics