Men’s soccer looks ahead after concluding first place season

Lipscomb’s men’s soccer team ended its season Friday night in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, but despite the loss the team did finish with a successful season. The Bisons had the home field advantage for the tournament after they earned the right by tying for first place in the A-Sun regular season with a 4-1-1 record, 12-4-1 overall. It was the first ever regular season championship for the men’s  team since joining the conference. Not only did the Bisons receive team acknowledgements, but also individual players were recognized by the Atlantic Sun. Senior Luke Gearin was named the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year, and freshman Ivan Alvarado was Freshman of the Year. The team had five players on the Atlantic Sun All-Conference team. The Bisons entered the tournament with high expectations based on their season record, but unfortunately they couldn’t pull through. The men lost 3-0 to North Florida who eventually won the tournament championship. The Bisons matched up against the Ospreys on a freezing evening this past Friday. The weather was easily one of the biggest challenges that each competing team faced during the tournament weekend. Despite the below freezing temperature, fans showed up to support the Bisons and cheer them on. “The weather was definitely something to deal with for all of the teams,” senior Zander El-Hindi said. “It speaks volumes to us as a team that our fans cheered us on for ninety minutes in twenty-degree weather.” UNF took the lead early on in the game scoring their first goal only nine minutes in. The Bisons worked hard to catch up and take the lead,...

Bisons earn third win in a row

The Lipscomb men’s soccer team won for the third time in a row Saturday night in a 3-1 victory over Longwood. This was a bye week for Lipscomb in terms of conference play, which offered the Bisons a chance to experiment with different strategies in preparation for the end of Atlantic Sun play. “I think a bye week is not a bad thing,” Bisons head coach Charles Morrow said. “For us it is an opportunity, you have questions arise halfway through the season, things you aren’t willing to risk in a conference game.” Morrow believes having the non-conference game scheduled allows them to try things that they cannot in a conference match during the season. “With the substitutions being the way they are it just doesn’t lend itself to try new things. Being able to try something new or switch personnel around in a bye week is good,” Morrow said. Lipscomb struck first in the match when freshman Jonathan Ramirez kicked in a left side goal off of a cross from fellow freshman Ivan Alvarado in the 38th minute. Just 15 minutes later, Lipscomb Junior Anthony Cedano scored his third goal of the season with a persistent play from the right side. Cedano was assisted by junior Josue Chavez. In the 54th minute, less than a minute after Cedano scored, Longwood was called for a foul in the Lipscomb box and senior Luke Gearin was able to capitalize on the penalty kick, tallying his eighth score of the season and putting lipscomb up 3-0. Longwood made it onto the board at 73:24 when Dan Campos took a free kick...

Men’s soccer nets last minute win in A-Sun opener

The men’s soccer team notched a win in the final moments of their first Atlantic Sun Conference game of the season Wednesday night. The Bisons came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 in the 87 minute. Junior Matt Kerridge scored off of an assist from Senior Omar Djabi to give the Bisons the lead in the waning moments. Although Lipscomb dominated ball possession for most of the game, USC Upstate held the league for the game’s first 65 minutes. The Spartans earned a penalty kick in the 32 minute, and junior Marvin Schmiege converted to give them the 1-0 lead. Senior Luke Gearin headed the ball into the back of the net to tie the game up at one. Gearin scored off of a free kick from Djabi, one of his two assists in the game. The goal was Gearin’s six for the season, putting him in first place in the A-Sun. Djabi also moved into first place in an A-Sun category thanks to his two assists. He now has five assists on the season, enough to tie him with fellow Bison, freshman Ivan Alvarado, for first in the conference. Lipscomb outshot the Spartans 30-7 on the night, including 15-3 in the second half. Despite the two goals allowed, Upstate’s sophomore goalkeeper Hassan Haddad had a strong showing with seven saves on the barrage of Bison...

Men’s soccer earns first home loss of season

After winning their first two home games of the season, the Lipscomb men’s soccer team earned their first home loss on Friday night against Georgia State 3-1. With less than ten minutes having elapsed from the game clock, the Panthers struck early thanks to a goal from freshman Rashid Alarape. Georgia State clung on to their 1-0 lead for the rest of the half with continuous ball possession. The Bisons came close to scoring late in the first half when senior Luke Gearin headed the ball just wide of the net off of a corner kick. The Panthers struck early again in the second half, this time less than two minutes after kickoff. Senior Stephen McGill scored the goal. Less than two minutes later, McGill scored again. McGill’s second score came from the penalty spot after the Panthers drew a foul in the goal box. In the 17th minute, the Bisons got on the scoreboard. In a play that echoed the missed goal opportunity in the first half, Gearin headed the ball into the the net off of a corner kick from freshman Ivan Alvarado. A re-energized Bison squad attacked the net constantly in the final fifteen minutes, but could never find the back of the net. Lipscomb will kick off the conference slate Wednesday at home against USC Upstate at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...

Men’s soccer wins big in home opener

The Lipscomb men’s soccer team took a commanding 4-1 victory over Houston Baptist on Wednesday night in their regular season home opener. The Bisons got out to a quick start thanks to a leaping header from junior Anthony Cedano in the 15th minute. Freshman Ivan Alvarado got the assist off of a long, arching cross. In the 23rd minute, senior Omar Djabi rocketed in a shot from outside the box to give Lipscomb a 2-0 lead. After thwarting away many attempts from the Huskies, Lipscomb finally allowed a goal in the 31st minute from Houston Baptist sophomore Tobenna Uzo. The Bisons ended the first half with a 2-1 lead. In the second half, Alvarado scored off an assist from Djabi in the 74th minute, giving each player both a goal and an assist for the game. Less than two minutes later Lipscomb earned a penalty kick. The Bisons sent senior Luke Gearin to the penalty spot, and he knocked in the fourth and final goal of the game. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...