NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb women’s soccer team got its season back on track Sunday, knocking off USC Upstate 2-0 for their first Atlantic Sun victory of 2011.

Lipscomb (3-9-1, 1-3-0 A-Sun) picked up their first A-Sun victory since Oct. 23, 2009 when the Lady Bisons defeated North Florida, 1-0.

Two years ago exactly, Lipscomb defeated Upstate (2-10-1, 0-3-0 A-Sun) for their last victory against the Spartans.

Senior Danielle Bethke got Lipscomb going in the 17th minute, collecting a cross from senior Kirsten Heikkinen and depositing it into the lower right corner of the net for her season’s first goal.

The goal broke a long scoreless streak for Bethke, who last scored against North Florida on Oct. 8, 2010.

In the 20th minute, a Bethke corner kick found senior Meghan McGuire in the box. The senior played the ball through a mass of defenders and fired it past Upstate’s Sarah Plantz for her season’s fifth goal.

McGuire is the active leading scorer for the Lady Bisons, with eight goals and 19 points in her career.

As good as Lipscomb was offensively in the first half, it was countered only by Upstate’s offensive ineptitude. The Spartans managed only two shots total in the opening period, with none challenging Lipscomb’s Erin Zerio.

The second half would be a different story. Upstate crashed the net, taking seven shots and putting five on net. Zerio had one of her best season’s best games, making five saves for the shutout.

It was the first clean sheet for Zerio during 2011; the shutout was her first since blanking the Citadel, 3-0, on Sept. 12, 2010.

For Lipscomb, the momentum from this win will need to carry over into next week. The Lady Bisons will host archrival Belmont, Friday night, at 7 p.m.

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).

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