Small, dedicated Lipscomb crowd fuels Bisons to ASUN Semifinals

On a chilly Thursday afternoon when classes and work kept the Lipscomb Soccer Complex stands sparse, with the official attendance of just 95, a dedicated group of fans supplied the necessary playoff atmosphere. The intensity paid off as the top-seeded Bisons shut out Queens, 2-0, in the ASUN Quarterfinals, earning a home spot in Sunday’s semifinals round.

“It just means more,” said Lipscomb fan Sam Garret. “You’ve got a game where it’s actually, if you lose , it matters.”

The low attendance was noticeable. The Lipscomb Soccer Complex was mostly quiet throughout the first half, a concession to the cold Oct. 30 weather and the fact that most students were still in class. However, the small, dedicated crowd of 95 fans that huddled in the stands maintained a steady, supportive hum, proving their commitment to the home team.

That quiet proved deceptive, as the energy was merely dormant, waiting for a spark. It erupted five minutes into the second half when freshman forward Skylar Cole broke the stalemate, instantly warming up the chilly air with a roar that signaled the crowd was fully invested in the Bisons’ fate.

The momentary quiet returned after the initial celebration, but the underlying tension remained as Queens searched for an equalizer. The sparse crowd was keenly focused on the clock, until the 75-minute mark. Junior midfielder Bella Carapazza found the back of the net, instantly replacing the anxiety with an overwhelming wave of relief and celebration.

With the 2-0 advantage sealed, the fans’ focus immediately shifted to Sunday’s semifinal. “We’re ready,” Garret said of the next match. “I mean, we think we can beat it. We think we’re the best team in the [ASUN]. We think we can beat anybody.”

The low attendance on Thursday may have resulted in a generally quiet setting, but for the dedicated 95 fans, the Lipscomb Soccer Complex proved its worth as a place where community matters. The crowd’s enthusiasm, concentrated entirely on the field, was enough to fuel the Bisons to the next round.

As the fans headed out into the still-chilly afternoon, their focus was firmly set on the next opportunity to cheer louder. Looking forward to hosting the semifinals, Lipscomb fan Sam Garret said he was “excited to move on to Sunday for a chance at another [ASUN] title,” adding that the team’s ultimate goal is to “get back to the NCAA tournament.”

Featured Image taken by Harold Espinoza Lopez.