Lipscomb (8-3-2, 3-0-0 A-SUN) scored 1:18 into the game and never gave #24 FGCU (9-1-2, 3-1-0 A-SUN) space to get going Sunday afternoon, stunning the Eagles 1-0 on their home turf to send the Green and Blue to their first defeat of the 2018 season.
"Obviously it was a disappointing result, but the better team today won" head coach Jim Blankenship said. "The same thing happened last year and we bounced back to win the tournament, that will be the goal again."
It was a disastrous start for the Eagles in the much anticipated matchup as Lipscomb needed just 1:18 to put the first goal on the board, sneaking one into the FGCU net to take the quick 1-0 lead.
The Eagles pushed the ball into the attacking third a number of times over the first 15 minutes, but weren't able to generate any real chances as they remained behind by one.
On the other side, the Lady Bisons tested junior Melissa Weck a number of times, but the Eagle keeper was up to the task, keeping it a one goal game through the middle portion of the first.
It wouldn't be until the 44th minute that the Eagles would get another shot and so the game sailed to the half with the score 1-0 in favor of Lipscomb.
Lipscomb outshot FGCU 7-5 in the first half. Five of the Bisons' shots were on goal while the Eagles didn't manage a single shot on net in the period.
FGCU found two decent chances early in the second half, but neither shot was on target. They finally put their first shot on goal in the 54th minute as senior Camille Knudstrup struck a low line drive, but it was stopped and the Eagles continued to chase their elusive first goal.
Weck continued to keep Lipscomb from extending their lead, but the Eagles were unable to break through against a packed in Bisons defense as they didn't get another shot on goal until the 76th minute when Alyssa Abbondandolo struck a shape angled shot to the near post before it was stopped to keep it a 1-0 game.
The Eagles had their final chance in the 88th minute as they got a free kick from just outside the box, but the shot was stopped easily and the final horn sounded with the Lady Bisons celebrating a 1-0 win.
The final stats heavily favored the Lady Bisons as they got off 17 shots, eight on net, while FGCU finished with 12 shots and just three on goal. The lone stat that the Eagles won on the afternoon was corners where they managed four to just one for Lipscomb.
Weck made seven saves in the loss while Knudstrup, Abbondandolo, and junior Marjorie Boilesen had the Eagles three shots on goal.
FGCU drops to 9-1-2 on the year and 3-1-0 in A-SUN action while Lipscomb improves to 8-3-2 and 3-0-0 in conference play.
The Eagles will look to regroup next week when they take on NJIT Thursday in Newark and Kennesaw State Sunday in Georgia.
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