SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Untimely goals conspired to upend the Lipscomb men’s soccer team in its Atlantic Sun opener at USC Upstate, Friday night. Senior Andrew Chamberlain scored his season’s first goal, but it would not be enough for the Bisons, who fell 3-1.

Lipscomb (1-8-2, 0-1-0 A-Sun) outshot Upstate (4-4-0, 1-0-0 A-Sun) 20-9, but only put eight shots on goal, compared to six shots on goal in nine attempts for the Spartans.

“We played well,” said Lipscomb head coach Charles Morrow. “Credit Upstate for getting numbers behind the ball, and they caught us with a high back line a couple of times.”

Upstate struck twice in the first half, with the first goal coming from Dylan Hoop in the 14th minute. Hakeem King assisted on Hoop’s third goal of 2011, a through ball that Hoop played one-on-one against keeper Brent McGee.

Late in the first half, Time Foerster led Dave Musambi into the box for an insurance goal, off to the left of the keeper. It was Musambi’s first of the season and Upstate took a 2-0 lead into halftime.

In the 66th, senior Andrew Chamberlain scored his season’s first goal, taking a cross from sophomore Isaac Pile and firing a shot that deflected past Upstate keeper Jason McCabe to cut the deficit in half.

Vying for the equalizer, Lipscomb allowed King’s second goal of the season, off an assist from Jan Wienholt in the 84th minute that doomed the Bisons.

“I think their third goal was a result of us chasing the equalizer, but it shouldn’t have come down to that,” Morrow said.

Lipscomb’s offense, though turned away most of the evening by Upstate, had several good individual performances. Sophomore Nick Bibb put two shots on goal, while freshman Matt Kerridge had a career-best three shots on net. Senior Garret Pettis fired five shots.

McGee took the loss, picking up two saves. McCabe stopped six shots for Upstate.

“It’s a tough loss for us,” Morrow said. “We left points on the field and you can’t have that in conference play.”

Lipscomb will be back on the field, Sunday, at 22^nd-ranked ETSU. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon.

Check Lipscombsports.com for more information on the Bison soccer team, and be sure to follow us on Twitter (@LUMSoccer) and like us on Facebook (Lipscomb University Men’s Soccer Team).