by Erika Plunkett | Sep 30, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
Sunday afternoon, with temperatures rising to nearly 100 degrees, the Lipscomb Lady Bisons faced off against fellow ASUN women’s soccer powerhouse the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles in their second conference game of the year. Neither team was ever able to fully gain control of the match as play stretched into overtime and then double overtime, where the final result was a 1-1 tie after 110 minutes of play. The Eagles seemed to take control of the game in the 15th minute when senior midfielder Marjorie Boilesen put the ball in the back of the net off of sophomore midfielder Ashlee Brentlinger’s assist, but sophomore midfielder Kristi Jones was able to respond shortly before halftime for the Bisons leveling the score once again. Entering the second half, it was clear to see why these two teams were ranked first and second in the preseason ASUN poll, as impenetrable defense and smart possession fought through the heat to keep both teams scoreless for the final 45 minutes of regulation. Lipscomb was able to do this by keeping FGCU’s all-American senior forward Evdokia Popadinova quiet. “We highlighted two players, 17 [senior forward Evdokia Popadinova] and 25 [senior midfielder Marjorie Boilesen]; 25 got the goal so we didn’t do quite exactly as we game-planned, but they are super talented,” Lipscomb’s head coach O’Brien said. “As far as shutting down Evie [Popadinova], our defenders knew that those two were their primary point-getters, the ones that lead their team in all the offensive statistical categories. When those two are around the ball, I know that there is an extra level of focus, and I...
by Grant Ledgister | Apr 15, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Not many people switch out of a stable job to pursue a career in something far less stable. Yet, that Lipscomb women’s soccer senior goalkeeper Kate Mason, a double major in accounting and finance, did this year. Mason had already accepted a full-time accounting position at a public accounting firm before she got an offer to play for Telge United FF, a Swedish professional soccer club. “When this came up, I knew it was something I couldn’t turn down,” Mason said. “Luckily the firm was very understanding of that and made it known that if I want to come back, there will be a spot for me.” At Lipscomb, the 5-foot-10, brown-haired goalie recorded more than 100 saves and allowed just 43 goals in her 42 career games. She posted shutouts in three of her final five games, including a 1-0 victory over Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA tournament last November. It was the support system around Mason that made her decision to play professional soccer in Europe easier. She said her coaches, teammates and friends at Lipscomb had major influence on the trajectory of her life and playing career. “This was a place that was really special to me and I had grew so much, not only as a soccer player but off the field too,” Mason said. “It was so awesome to be in a place where I was encouraged to play for something bigger than myself and use this platform to share the gospel.” A player of Mason’s caliber does not go unnoticed in the recruiting process. She could have gone to...
by Russell Vannozzi | Jan 15, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Following the success of its championship 2018 season, Lipscomb women’s soccer coach Kevin O’Brien had more good news to share Monday. The team announced the arrival of two SEC transfers – forward Cami Rogers from Auburn and midfielder Danielle Van Liere from Florida. Both players are eligible for the 2019 season. “They’re going to create more depth, and if they work hard, they could be starters for us,” O’Brien said. “Because you play so many games in rapid succession, it’s important to have a deep team and be able to rotate your squad.” Rogers scored two goals in 15 games as a freshman at Auburn in 2018. She tallied 86 career goals at Prattville High School near Montgomery, Alabama. “She has electric pace and is good at running at defenders,” O’Brien said. “She’ll fit into how we play with our transition and counter-attacking style.” Van Liere appeared in 15 matches over three seasons at Florida. O’Brien said her passing ability from the center midfielder position will provide a boost for the Lady Bisons. “She’s technical, intelligent and is a really good passer,” he said. “We have talented forwards, but their runs [toward the goal] don’t mean anything if we don’t have someone to pass them the ball.” Rogers and Van Liere join forward Allie Dunn as Lipscomb’s 2nd and 3rd transfers from the SEC. Dunn played at Arkansas in 2017 and figured to be a promising addition for the Lady Bisons before an injury derailed her 2018 campaign. Lipscomb is coming off its most successful season in program history after finishing with a 15-5-2 record and winning its first-ever...
by Russell Vannozzi | Nov 15, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Mississippi State assistant women’s soccer coach Josh Rife sent Lipscomb coach Kevin O’Brien a prescient text message after the Lady Bisons defeated North Alabama for the ASUN championship on Nov. 3. “Hope we don’t have to play you guys in the NCAA’s,” Rife wrote O’Brien. As luck would have it, Lipscomb and Mississippi State were paired as first-round opponents for the NCAA tournament last week. And Rife, who played with O’Brien on the USL’s Charlotte Eagles the early 2000s, was certainly on to something with his hunch about the strength of the Lady Bisons. “It was really ironic and funny,” O’Brien said of the message and the draw. “And obviously, it turned out to be great.” Lipscomb used an unlikely free kick from midfield to shock Mississippi State with 1-0 upset in the final minute of Golden Goal overtime last Friday. The victory advanced the Lady Bisons (15-4-2) to a second-round date with Duke on Friday morning in Washington, D.C. “The moment was kind of surreal,” O’Brien said. “We had kind of set our lineup for penalty kicks. You’re thinking with a minute on the clock [that] you’re definitely going into the penalty [kicks].” On the free kick, Lipscomb defender Dominique Diller sent a prayer into the box from midfield, hoping for a lucky bounce. The ball ricocheted off the head of Lipscomb Justis Bailey and to the foot of Kaitlin Echols, who quickly touched the ball into the back of the net, although Bailey was initially credited with the goal. “Kaitlin actually got a flick on it,” O’Brien said. “You can see if you watch the video back,...
by Russell Vannozzi | Nov 5, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb women’s soccer team patiently waited to learn its fate for the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance Monday afternoon at a watch party in the Allen Arena Hall of Fame room. As luck would have it, the Lady Bisons (14-4-2) were paired with another NCAA first-timer in Mississippi State (9-6-2). The first-round match is set for Friday at 4 p.m. in Starkville. “It’s going to be a difficult game, but I’m excited about the opportunity to travel,” Lipscomb coach Kevin O’Brien said. “We thought we might get Vanderbilt and that would’ve been a great game, but I know the girls really were excited about being able to get on the road and get the [full] NCAA postseason tournament experience.” The two teams have a history – Lipscomb went to Starkville and emerged with a 1-0 victory over the Bulldogs on August 26, 2016. Ellen Lundy scored the lone tally in the 16th minute and goalie Anna Buhigas made nine saves to preserve the win. “We know Mississippi State and played them a couple years ago,” O’Brien said. “I’m actually friends with their coaching staff a little bit. They’re going to be motivated.” Lipscomb junior forward and 2018 ASUN Player of the Year Olivia Doak is one of seven current Lady Bisons that played in the 2016 match at Mississippi State. The nine-goal scorer said that experience should be a confidence booster for Lipscomb. “I remember their environment being really crazy,” Doak said. “Knowing that we won on [their] field before is good to have in the back of our minds.” Lipscomb clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA...
