UCA soccer beats Lipscomb 1-0 to extend its win streak to four

The UCA men’s soccer win streak is now up to four games after Central Arkansas held off Lipscomb 1-0 on Thursday night.

The result also gave the Bears their first ASUN Conference win of the season and pushed their overall record to 4-1-1.

UCA came out fast and controlled the ball for long stretches early on. The Bisons couldn’t find much room to work with, as the Bears’ midfield kept slowing down any push toward the attacking third. It was a physical night from the opening whistle, with both teams battling for every loose ball.

Lipscomb got its best look of the first half in the 18th minute, but senior Kaisei Matsudo cleared the danger away before it could turn into a shot on target. That clearance kept things scoreless and let the Bears settle back into their rhythm.

The Bears had a few chances of their own before the break. Kyle Schwartz fired a shot after a pass from Danny Nava, but it drifted just left of the net. A little later, Vaclav Kozeny tested the Lipscomb goalkeeper in the 34th minute, though that shot was turned away too. Neither side could break through, so the two teams went into halftime tied at 0-0.

Mwamba’s corner-kick goal breaks tie

Lipscomb held the ball to start the second half and looked to grab early momentum, but it didn’t take long for UCA to answer. In the 54th minute, Joseph Mwamba found the back of the net off a corner kick for his first goal of the year. Garner Wolfe picked up the assist, his second helper of the season, and the Bears had the lead they needed.

Lipscomb pushed for an equalizer as the clock wound down. The Bisons got a transition chance in the 64th minute, but that shot sailed wide right. They also tried working the ball through with passes along the bench-side of the field, though UCA’s defense kept recovering in time to shut those looks down.

Merrick Cook made sure the lead held up. The senior goalkeeper came up big late, stopping shots in both the 86th and 88th minutes to preserve the clean sheet. He finished the match with three saves overall and picked up his shutout in the process.

UCA also held a 7-4 edge in total shots and matched Lipscomb with three shots on goal apiece. The Bears won the day defensively too, out-saving the Bisons three to two while committing 13 fouls to Lipscomb’s 12.

Thursday’s win wasn’t just about the conference standings. It stretched Central Arkansas’ home winning streak to eight straight matches at Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex, a run that dates back to last season. The Bears will look to keep both streaks alive on the road, traveling to face UAB on Tuesday at 7 p.m. That match will stream live on ESPN+, with live stats also available online for fans following along.