AJ Howard (Staff Writer)
Photo: Matt Boggs- Sentinel
KSU’s soccer team allowed three second-half goals to Lipscomb in a 3-0 defeat to open Atlantic Sun play Saturday in Nashville.
The Owls (3-7-1) started the conference schedule with a loss for just the second time since making the jump to the Atlantic Sun in 2005.
Lipscomb’s Jade Abarca opened the scoring for the Bison with a goal in the 51st minute. Baylee Linnell and Carolyn Springsteen added the second and third goals, respectively, to put the Owls away in the first truly meaningful game of the season for both teams.
Though a four-goal outing in the Owls’ final non-conference game suggested better offensive results could come, KSU was held scoreless for the fifth time in the past six games. Only two of the Owls’ 11 shots were on goal in the loss.
Sophomore forward Maggie Gaughan, who leads KSU with five goals on the season, played just 49 minutes on the night, recording a single shot. Instead, the Owls’ only shots on target came from Alma Gardarsdottir and Cassidy Kemp.
Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Sturdivant started in goal for the Owls and played the full 90 minutes. She had three saves in the loss.
“We want to make sure we learn from these mistakes and be ready to go on Friday,” KSU head coach Rob King said to KSUOwls.com.
KSU will face a pair of Florida teams at home this weekend as the Atlantic Sun schedule continues. The Owls will open the weekend against Stetson at 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 3 and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
