LOUISVILLE, Ky. — ASUN preseason favorite Lipscomb scored twice inside the first five minutes and protected its lead for the remainder of the match in a 2-0 win over the Bellarmine University women's soccer team Sunday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

Lipscomb (6-4, 2-0 ASUN) showed right from the get-go why the Bisons were chosen by the conference's coaches as the team to beat in the league. Lucy Ream scored off a pass from Kiara Pralle in the second minute, and reigning ASUN Player of the Year Kelli Beiler made it 2-0 in the fifth minute after converting off a feed from Ream.

The latter was Beiler's ASUN-best eighth goal of the season. She was also recognized as the 2023 ASUN Preseason Player of the Year.

After showcasing its quick-strike ability, Lipscomb turned to discipline in sitting on its lead. Bellarmine (3-4-2, 0-2) settled in after the shaky start, but the Bisons didn't have a breakdown or the kind of careless mistake that might have led to a momentum-changing goal for the Knights.

Bellarmine kept Lipscomb out of the net for the final 86 minutes, but unfortunately for the Knights, the play in the match was largely dictated by the Bisons' fast start. Lipscomb finished with a 14-3 advantage in shots, including 7-1 on frame.

Bellarmine will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday at Kennesaw State in an ASUN matchup.

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