Three-Peat Complete: Lady No. 6 Bisons stun No. 1 FGCU 1-0 to claim 2026 ASUN Women’s Soccer Championship
Behind a decisive second-half strike from freshman forward Haylee Dean and a nine-save shutout performance from junior goalkeeper Sundell “Sunnie” Woodard, the Lipscomb women’s soccer team defeated Florida Gulf Coast University 1-0 on Friday afternoon at Pickering Field at the FGCU Soccer Complex to capture the 2026 ASUN Championship Final and secure a historic program three-peat.
Playing on the road in hostile territory, Lipscomb had to withstand an aggressive early offensive push from the Eagles. FGCU tested the Bisons’ backline immediately, forcing Woodard into action in just the second minute with a low shot toward the bottom right corner from junior midfielder Taylor Latini.
Woodard answered the call early and often. Throughout a scoreless opening 45 minutes, FGCU generated consistent pressure, firing eight shots and earning two corner kicks, while Lipscomb’s defensive unit, anchored by junior midfielder Tatum Ahlemeyer, junior forward Katie Brightwell, and freshman forward Kinsley Whitecavage, absorbed the pressure and blocked key lanes.
Woodard preserved the 0-0 deadlock heading into halftime after turning away another dangerous low attempt from senior forward Ava Boyd in the 36th minute.
Lipscomb emerged from the break with renewed offensive urgency. Brightwell tested FGCU sophomore goalkeeper Madara Bome in the 54th minute with a shot aimed at the top right corner, signaling a shift in momentum.
After re-entering the match in the 59th minute, Dean immediately made her presence felt. Following an initial warning shot that forced a leaping save from Bome in the 66th minute, Dean found the breakthrough just two minutes later. In the 68th minute, the freshman forward buried a clinical right-footed finish into the bottom right corner of the net, giving the Bisons a 1-0 advantage.
With the championship hanging in the balance, FGCU threw numbers forward over the final 20 minutes, unleashing a barrage of shots in search of an equalizer.
Woodard rose to the occasion every single time. The Lipscomb keeper denied a low shot from Boyd in the 73rd minute, stoned senior defender Sarah Greiner in the 79th, and made back-to-back stops on sophomore defender Ryanne Robinson, including a crucial team save in the 82nd minute, the Eagles pressed relentlessly.
Woodard collected two final saves in the closing seven minutes, including a stop on Latini in the 89th minute, to lock down the clean sheet and cement the Bisons’ third consecutive conference crown.
With the automatic bid secured, Lipscomb awaits its postseason destination. The Lady Bisons will learn their first-round matchup during the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 16, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Featured Image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics
Harold Espinoza Lopez
Harold is a junior Sports Media major and Marketing minor. A Nashville native with a lifelong passion for sports, he loves bringing dynamic coverage to Herd Media. Outside of media and marketing, Harold is a true people person who stays busy traveling, playing sports, and exploring the world.
