ATLANTA – The Lipscomb men’s soccer team went on the road Friday night and dropped a 4-1 decision to Georgia State.

In their first road game of the season the Bisons (2-1) were looking to do something they had never done before, beat the Panthers (2-1).

After the first 45 minutes of action that saw sophomore Logan Paynter put Lipscomb on top 1-0, it looked like the Bisons were in control and on the way to ending the drought.

Georgia State, however, had other plans.

After notching a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Memphis on Sunday to win the Sun Belt Player of the Week, midfielder Hannes Burmeister showed he had plenty left in the tank.

The sophomore followed up with another three-goal performance Friday night to pace a Panther attack that reeled off four second-half goals against a stingy Bison defense that had yet to allow a goal in five halves this season.

The loss drops Lipscomb to 0-9 all-time against Georgia State.

 

SCORING:

22’ – LIPSCOMB: Paynter gave Lipscomb an early advantage with his fourth goal of the season.

54’ – GEORGIA STATE: Burmeister finds the equalizer after a near miss from teammate Liam Fitzsimmons.

57’ – GEORGIA STATE: Max Hemmings scored the game-winner off a set piece for his first goal of the season.

64’ – GEORGIA STATE: A Hemmings to Burmeister connection gives GSU its third goal in a 10-minute span.

78’ – GEORGIA STATE: Burmeister finished off his second hat trick of the season in as many games following a feed from Rashid Alarape.

 

WHAT HEAD COACH CHARLES MORROW SAID:

“This was a really frustrating loss for us. I don’t feel that 4-1 was indicative of the type of game it was. I don’t think we managed the game very well. There were some opportunities to distance ourselves in the first half, but we didn’t take advantage. And then in the second half Georgia State came out with a lot of energy and we could not find the composure to relieve some of the pressure.

“The first three goals all came close together. They were not huge mistakes in terms of what we were doing defensively, but our inability to relieve pressure and sort of clear out our half of the pitch really hurt us. We let the game slip away and ultimately we did not do a good job of managing the game.

“Georgia State, if anything, is a very good counter attacking team and we know we will see teams again like them, teams that like to sit deep, so hopefully this game will help us prepare. But ultimately we played into the way they wanted us to and it backfired.

 “Both teams were heated and very emotional. Our guys did do a good job of keeping in check, especially given some of the stuff that was said and done on the field.

“We never should have lost this game. We never should have given up four goals and it really makes it tough to lose a game when you are up 1-0 at the half.”

 

QUICK KICKS:

• GSU’s first goal halted a 234-minute scoreless streak for the Lipscomb defense.
• Georgia State outshot Lipscomb 15-10 after each team fired off seven apiece in the first half. The Bisons did put six shots on target compared to GSU’s five.
• Paynter’s four goals are the most in the ASUN this season. He has now scored six goals in his last seven matches played.
• Goalkeeper Micah Bledsoe finished the night with one save. The four goals allowed match his career high. 
• Paynter and Ivan Sakou led the team with three shot each.
• The Bisons are now 0-1 on the road this season. They finished 2-5 away from home in 2015. 
• Georgia State has scored four goals in back-to-back games.
• The last time Lipscomb allowed four goals was October 17, 2015 when No. 22 FGCU prevailed 4-0.

 

UP NEXT:

Lipscomb returns home next Thursday to host Mercer in a rematch of old ASUN rivals at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex in a 7 p.m. tilt.

“This team is resilient, we will bounce back,” Morrow said. “We are looking forward to getting that bad taste out of our mouth. A disadvantage of not having a Friday-Sunday weekend is that we have to wait a little longer to get back out, but we will get more rest and learn from these mistakes tonight and get ready for Mercer. We will play them tougher than we did Georgia State.”