Bisons battle to 1-1 draw at UAB in gritty season opener
The Lipscomb men’s soccer team opened its 2026 season with a 1-1 draw against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday night at PNC Field.
The Bisons struck early in the second half to grab the lead, but the UAB Blazers answered back midway through the frame, leaving both sides with a point in a physical season opener. Lipscomb redshirt junior goalkeeper Alex Kara recorded one save on the night.
After a scoreless first half defined by tight defensive play, the Bisons wasted no time breaking the deadlock after the intermission. In the 49th minute, sophomore forward Mateo Secaira scored a goal off a setup from redshirt senior midfielder Patrick Walz to put Lipscomb up 1-0.
UAB intensified its attack following the opening score, putting heavy pressure on the Bisons’ backline. The Blazers capitalized in the 71st minute when senior forward Lucas Nordin finished an assist from senior midfielder Gael Zackrisson to level the match at 1-1.
The fixture turned physical down the stretch, with yellow cards distributed across both squads. Lipscomb was forced to play the final nine minutes plus stoppage time a man down after freshman midfielder Tobías Sosa picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 81st minute, resulting in a red card ejection. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Bisons held firm to secure the road draw.
The Bisons will continue their non-conference road swing when they travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to face the University of Louisville on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Featured image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics.
