Lipscomb Bisons fall to the West Florida Argonauts in a chilly October ASUN matchup. 

The Lipscomb University men’s soccer team fell to the University of West Florida 1-0 on a heartbreaking goal in the 86th minute Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex. It was a chilly night with temperatures ranging from the high 40s to low 50s.

During the game, the Bisons sported pink jerseys in honor of the program’s annual breast cancer awareness night. The Lipscomb crowd joined in, wearing pink apparel to show their support.

It was an intense match for both teams, featuring 30 total fouls: 19 for Lipscomb and 11 for West Florida. Senior goalkeeper Noah Kump got the start over the Bisons’ usual redshirt junior goalkeeper, Alex Kara. It was Kump’s third start of the season.

Both teams had early chances, but neither side was able to test the goalkeepers. Neither team dominated possession early, but the Argonauts held an advantage in shots and corner kicks.

In the 17th minute, West Florida continued the pressure when graduate midfielder Rafael Esteves scored on a leaping aerial shot from outside the penalty box. Esteves thought he put the Argonauts on the board, but the goal was called back because of a Lipscomb handball that occurred before the shot.

The score remained tied 0-0 at halftime as both sides struggled to capture momentum. West Florida held a large 7-1 advantage in corner kicks at the break, but the Argonauts generated only two more total shots than the Bisons off those opportunities. Both sides had three shots on goal, while both goalkeepers recorded three saves as the back lines held strong.

Lipscomb had six more fouls than West Florida at the half, but the Argonauts caught up quickly as physical play escalated in the second half. Officials issued four yellow cards after halftime, split evenly with two for each side. As the night grew colder, the intensity rose with both teams pushing for a breakthrough.

Late in the second half, the match continued to be an even, gritty outing. As time wound down, it felt increasingly likely the match would end in a draw.

Then, in the 86th minute, Esteves dribbled down the field and sent a blistering cross into the penalty box. The cross found the right foot of junior midfielder Nikolas Rodriguez Alzate, who buried the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net to give West Florida the 1-0 lead.

Following the late gut punch, the Bisons were unable to rally in the final minutes.

The loss is a costly setback for Lipscomb’s ASUN Conference standings hopes. Meanwhile, the victory is a massive conference boost for the Argonauts as they gear up for a final push in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

West Florida returns home to take on Jacksonville on Saturday, Oct. 24. Lipscomb looks to bounce back against Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky, also on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Featured Image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics