Bisons strike early, settle for 2-2 draw against UTC at home
The Lipscomb women’s soccer team fought to a 2-2 draw against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Thursday night at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
The Bisons built an early two-goal advantage inside the opening 20 minutes. Still, the Mocs mounted a steady comeback across both halves to level the match. Lipscomb junior goalkeeper Sunnie Woodard delivered a standout performance in net, making nine saves under heavy pressure throughout the night.
Lipscomb gained the early upper hand in the fourth minute when a defensive mix-up led to an own goal off UTC senior goalkeeper Lilly Kate Varino. It put the Bisons ahead 1-0. The momentum continued in the 17th minute when redshirt junior forward Annalise Cannada curled a right-footed set piece cleanly into the bottom right corner of the net to double the lead.
Chattanooga responded with consistent attacking pressure, breaking through just before the intermission when senior midfielder Savannah Dunahay slotted a right-footed strike into the bottom right corner in the 46th minute to make it 2-1.
The Mocs carried that energy into the second half, continually testing Lipscomb’s backline. The equalizer came in the 64th minute as sophomore midfielder Emma Reeves found space inside the box and slipped a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
Both sides pushed for a late game-winner down the stretch, with Woodard turning away multiple high-quality UTC chances and Varino denying a late attempt from Lipscomb’s freshman forward Haylee Dean in the 84th minute to preserve the 2-2 decision.
The Lady Bisons will travel to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Sunday, Aug. 30, to take on Middle Tennessee State University.
Featured image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics.
