NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb Lady Bisons soccer team squandered their 1-0 halftime advantage to lose their home conference opener to 2-1 to ETSU, Friday night.

Lipscomb (2-9-1, 0-3-0 Atlantic Sun) fell to the Lady Bucs (7-3-0, 2-0-0 A-Sun) in the Lady Bisons first match under the lights at the recently renovated Lipscomb Soccer Complex. The night was also “Think Pink” night to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Showing more offense than they have in recent games, the Lady Bisons had nine shot attempts in the game, one more than their season average, yet were unable to consistently challenge ETSU’s defense. ETSU was held below their season average of 18.78 shots per game, taking only 13 in this contest.

The Lady Bisons scored 26 minutes into the game off a 25-yard kick into the upper right corner of the net by junior Martika Powe, assisted by sophomore Stephanie Romero. The goal was the first of Powe’s career.

That would be all the offense either squad would put together in the first half. ETSU’s Caitlin Gaughan wouldn’t be challenged again, while Lipscomb’s Erin Zerio made three run-of-the-mill saves in the opening 45 minutes.

Fifty-five minutes into the match, ETSU tied the game up with a cross into the box through traffic by freshman Taylor Maxson, with an assist from fellow freshman Ramey Kerns. Maxson put it away for her season’s third goal.

Minutes later ETSU senior Genna Petersen snuck it past Lipscomb’s goalkeeper, Erin Zerio, tapping in a rebound to bring the score to 2-1.

With just a few minutes remaining Senior Meghan McGuire had one last attempt to tie up the game with a long shot to the goal. Gaughan got a hand on the ball, deflecting it toward the open net. Gaughan recovered and collected the loose ball before a Lipscomb player could get to it.

Zerio made six saves for the Lady Bisons. Gaughan, the reigning A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week, made two stops.

The Lady Bisons will face USC Upstate this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in their fourth conference match of the season.

Check Lipscombsports.com for more information on the Lady Bison soccer team, and follow us on Twitter (@Lipscombwsoccer) and like us on Facebook (Lipscomb Women’s Soccer).