FORT MYERS, FL—Tied at 3-3 after 120 minutes of action in the first round of the 2017 ASUN Conference Men's Soccer Tournament between sixth-seeded Lipscomb and third-seeded NJIT concluded in penalty kicks. Ultimately, the Bisons came out on top, winning the shootout 3-0 and advancing to the programs sixth straight ASUN Conference semifinal appearance.
The Highlanders conclude its season with an 8-7-4 record, marking the program's second-highest mark for wins in the Division I era since the 2012 season.
Down 3-1 with six minutes remaining in regulation, NJIT scored a pair of goals knotting the game at 3-3.
Freshman
Pablo Jimenez struck for the second time in the match, from 25-yards out to cut the lead to 3-2 with six minutes remaining.
Two minutes later, the Highlanders tied the match at 3-3, as senior co-captain
Danny Cordeiro one-timed a Jimenez cross from three yards out. The goal for Cordeiro was his fifth of the season.
The match headed to extra time, but neither team was able to tally in either period, and the match was settled in penalty kicks.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Luke Wilson was called upon for the shootout for the Bisons. Wilson, who had not played a minute in his collegiate career, was inserted to the net for Lipscomb and made two stops.
The first came against the nation's leading goal scorer
Mamadou Guirassy, as the ball glanced off Wilson's hands and just over the crossbar.
Jimenez, who had scored twice previously in the match, was also denied by Wilson.
Kyle Smith and Eduardo Reza converted on their PKs, while freshman Ben Locke drove home the game-winner, giving Lipscomb a 3-0 victory.
"I thought our seniors really carried us and were instrumental in our comeback," second-year head coach
Fernando Barboto commented. "We battled and continued to possess and attack to force overtime. We were unfortunate not to win the match. Losing in penalty kicks is an unlucky draw. But as mentioned, thank you to our seniors who continued to help build this program with another winning season."
The match started off with a fast pace, as both teams had several scoring opportunities early in the first half.
The Bisons struck first, as senior Ivan Sakou put Lipscomb on the board early, with a put-back goal off the post assisted by Ivan Alvarado in the 13
th minute. Sakou's goal was his sixth of the season.
Lipscomb struck again in the 18th minute as Ryan Birchfield got behind the NJIT defense and put one in the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Sakou scored his second goal of the first half in the 21
st minute mark. Alvarado served a cross to Sakou, who headed it in the back of the net, giving Lipscomb a commanding 3-0 lead.
ASUN All-Freshmen team honoree Jimenez netted his second goal of the season for NJIT with eight minutes left in the first half, to get the Highlanders on the board.
The two squads would get their share of chances throughout the second half, but neither was able to break through until the Highlanders provided a pair of goals in the final six minutes.
Notes
Tonight's penalty shootout thriller was the first ASUN Men's Soccer Championship match to go to PK's since 2012.
Guirassy, the 2017 ASUN Player of the Year, collegiate career comes to a close, ranked first in the nation in total goals (16).
The senior forward leads the ASUN in total goals (16), total points (33), game-winning goals (5), goals per game (0.94), points per game (2.00) and total shots (81).
His 16 goals and 34 points are an NJIT Division I record single season record. For his career at NJIT, his 26 goals ranks first in the Division I era and tied for fifth all-time while his 58 points ranks first in the D1 era and eighth all-time.
Jimenez, one of three Highlanders named to the ASUN All-Freshmen team, concludes his freshmen campaign with seven assists, which ties the NJIT Division I record for assists in a season.
His five individual points (2 goals, 1 assist) ranks tied for second in the NJIT Division I era.
Cordeiro, an ASUN Conference second-team honoree, concludes his collegiate career with seven goals and 11 assists, which ranks second all-time in the Division I era.
