CONWAY, Ark. – It certainly got interesting late, but the Central Arkansas men's soccer team pulled off a 2-1 win over Lipscomb at home on Saturday, breaking through and beating the reigning champions with a couple of masterclass goals.
 
The win improves Central Arkansas to 5-4 on the year and 2-1 in conference matches. Elijah Bishop and Pietro Fontana logged the goals, and Devonte Richards picked up assists on both of them.
 
It didn't take long for Central Arkansas to establish that it was coming for a win this time; it only took a few seconds for Charles Brunet to take a shot, whizzing past the right post. The Bears stayed aggressive early, earning a corner kick in the ninth minute. Richards lined it up and sent it to the front post, where Sohma Ichikawa lifted it a few feet further toward the goal for the 6-4 Bishop to head into the net.
 
Andres Robles nearly doubled the score a minute later, putting a shot on frame that forced a save from the Lipscomb keeper. The Bears continued to pepper the goal with shots, putting five on frame during the first half. But the Bisons weren't just going to lie down after the early score, they too put several shots on target in the first 45. Javier Ramirez, though, blocked their path, keeping his ledger clean through the halftime break.
 
Central Arkansas came out of halftime determined to add to the lead, taking the first few shots in the second half. After keeping everything in front, Lipscomb started to turn the momentum, taking a pair of shots and earning a corner kick about ten minutes into the second half.
 
Later in the half, Richards got ahead of the defense with the ball. Seeing Fontana breaking to the net, Richards laid it off for his forward, and Fontana crushed it home for his team-leading third goal of the season.
 
An own goal with just over two minutes created some drama, cutting the lead in half and letting Lipscomb get within a score, but the defense locked back in and cruised to the finish line without giving up another shot.
 
The win snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Bisons, including six since joining the ASUN. Central Arkansas moves into sole possession of second place three games into the ASUN schedule, and hands Lipscomb its first ASUN loss of the season.
 
The Bears are back on the field on Tuesday, heading over to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.