A different Battle of the Boulevard: Lipscomb and Belmont soccer clubs find community on the field

On Friday, Sept. 25, the soccer club hosted Lipscomb’s long-standing sports rival, Belmont, at the intramural field. Lipscomb won 7-0, however, the game was about more than competition. It was about camaraderie.

Both soccer clubs are just over a year old. While Lipscomb’s started a semester before Belmont’s, the two groups have much in common. Both meet twice a week with the goal of competing against other schools.

More importantly, both clubs have similar motivations.

“For me and a lot of people, I think it’s just… we have the passion for the game,” said Jack Lowry, captain of Lipscomb’s soccer club. “It’s a great mental break.” 

These clubs are student-run. They find their own equipment and organize their own practices. Leaders like Lowry help motivate the players, as well as set-up matches.

For Belmont’s soccer club, these logistics have proven challenging. Belmont does not have a dedicated soccer field. Even their D-1 must borrow a middle school’s field for practice. 

According to soccer club president Angie Jackson, Belmont “isn’t as engaged in the athletic department, at least with outdoor sports.”

“That’s how I know we’re committed,” said Jackson. “’Cause we have nothing, and we’re still making the most of it.”

These challenges make the relationship between the clubs about more than competition. Matches create a sense of community for soccer enthusiasts, regardless of which school they attend.

“We’ve been trying to find community and camaraderie around the Nashville area, and Lipscomb was one of the first to really just kind of say yes to that,” said Jackson. “We just love that y’all are being so generous to even let us play on y’all’s turf every time we play.”

Friday’s game marked the third time the teams played against each other.

“We’ve got to know some of them… that’s the fun part,” said Lowry. “They’re really sweet people.”

Ultimately, love of the game brings both teams together, despite busy schedules.

“We’re passionate about it, so we make time for it,” Lowry said. 

Members of the clubs don’t have soccer built into their routine the way student-athletes do. They come from a variety of majors, and many also work.

This, however, hasn’t stopped the players. “We find the time because we want it enough,” said Jackson. For these students, spending a Friday night competing isn’t time-consuming. It’s their idea of fun.

 “I met most of my greatest friends here,” said Lowry of the club. “It’s just a great environment to take a break from the studies, do some physical activities and be around awesome people.”

Feature image shot by Chrissy Julien