Lady Bisons blanks Stetson 1–0 behind Dean’s game-winner
The Lipscomb Bisons women’s soccer team earned a hard-fought 1–0 shutout victory over Stetson University on Sunday afternoon at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex, claiming their first ASUN conference win of the season.
Freshman forward Haylee Dean delivered the decisive finish in the 63rd minute off an assist from junior forward Katie Brightwell, capping off a physical, box-to-box battle that saw the Bisons step up on both ends of the pitch.
“I think we’ve been building, and we’ve taken some moments from earlier on in the season and learning and growing, and I think that was a good example of growing from some of those moments, and I’m really proud of them for putting it together,” Lipscomb head coach Dr. Kathleen Paulsen said. “We keep wanting to get more and more lethal as we’re getting into the final third… I think we’ve grown in our ability to create those chances, and now we just need to put them away.”
The match opened with intense back-and-forth play as both teams traded early fouls and set pieces. Stetson threatened in the 8th minute when junior midfielder Abigail Dibble fired a shot toward the bottom center of the net, but Lipscomb junior goalkeeper Sundell “Sunnie” Woodard made the save to keep the match level.
Lipscomb generated its own chances in the opening half, led by junior midfielder Tatum Ahlemeyer. Ahlemeyer tested Stetson senior goalkeeper Clare Boesel with shots on frame in the 31st and 34th minutes, but Boesel stood tall to keep the match scoreless.
Stetson put together a dangerous late sequence in the closing minutes of the first half, testing Woodard with back-to-back shots on target from redshirt junior forward Eva McCoy and redshirt sophomore defender Cassandra Nagy in the 42nd minute. Woodard turned both away, finishing the first half with four saves to hold the score at 0–0 entering the break.
Lipscomb came out on the attack early in the second period. In the 49th minute, senior forward Jaide-Simone Prejean pushed downfield and sent a shot to the bottom center, but Boesel picked up another save. Brightwell followed up with a low attempt in the 56th minute that was also denied by Boesel.
The defining moment of the match arrived at the 63:31 mark. Stetson redshirt junior forward Stella Comana drove downfield and unleashed a low shot toward the bottom left corner, forcing a diving save from Woodard.
Just 20 seconds later, the Bisons capitalized on a rapid counter-attack transition. Brightwell controlled the ball near the box and laid off a crisp pass to Dean, who struck a right-footed shot into the bottom center of the net to give Lipscomb a 1–0 lead in the 64th minute.
“I was just probably really excited,” Dean said of her game-winning goal. “I just realized the ball was going in the net, and I was like, ‘Okay, now we’re up,’ and I was like, ‘Okay, we need to keep going.’ But I was just excited to celebrate with all my teammates.”
“I’m so proud of my team,” Dean added. “Honestly, I wouldn’t want any other group of girls standing behind me. I’m so proud of each and every one of them. We all killed it today. It was a team win… the bench, the coaches, the players on the field, it was just—I’m so proud of everyone.”
Stetson pressed for an equalizer late in the period, earning back-to-back corner kicks in the 74th minute and drawing a yellow card on junior midfielder Payton Quinones in the 83rd minute. However, the Lipscomb defensive backline stood firm to deny any second-half equalizer, securing Woodard’s 5-save clean sheet and sealing the 1–0 victory.
Addressing the home crowd after the conference victory, Paulsen praised the support at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
“Yeah, we’re so thankful for our fan base, and just people keep coming out week after week, supporting us, and we’re so grateful,” Paulsen said.
The lady Bisons will look to carry their momentum onto the road as they travel to Pensacola, Fla, to face the University of West Florida on Thursday, Oct. 8.
“It’ll be a good game,” Paulsen said looking ahead to the road trip. “They were a really good team. They’re new to the league. And so, yeah, they’re a good team, so we’ll prepare this week and get ready to go.”
Featured image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics.
