NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Down early again, the Central Arkansas women's soccer team pulled off another late comeback, this time downing Lipscomb 3-2 in a road ASUN match.
 
The Bears (4-5, 3-0 ASUN) pulled off a feat that hadn't been done by any team since 2018, beat Lipscomb in a regular-season conference match in Nashville. And just like every other match of this four-game winning streak, the Bears scored late in the match to come away with the win, and just like the other three wins, Kelly Van Gundy tallied a goal in the effort.
 
Lipscomb came out flying, scoring two goals in just over six minutes to take a fast lead. But similar to the Queens game, Central Arkansas responded fast, with a corner kick from Brianna Lopez finding Sophia Backstrom, who deflected it with the side of her foot to get the Bears on the board. It marked Backstrom's fourth goal of the season, and her third goal in the last four matches.
 
After the flurry of scores, Lipscomb looked primed to add another, rattling off four more shots on goal before the 25^th minute, but Kajsa Pruner was able to get in front of all of them. Then, in the 28^th, Anna Kerr would show off some fancy footwork to get some open space, and she took a shot from about 25 yards, burying it into the right corner to tie the game. Lipscomb would take a couple more shots as the half closed, but the score stayed tied as the teams headed to the half.
 
Central Arkansas notched itself as the only team to score multiple goals against the Bisons in Nashville this season, and only needed the first 27 minutes to get it done.
 
The Bisons went right back to work pressuring the Central Arkansas defense as the second half opened, putting four shots up in the first 15 minutes of the half. The Bears responded in kind, with Jama Akpanudo forcing a defender to stop a shot in the goal after beating the keeper one-on-one, and the anticipation was building as time ticked away.
 
But as the second half continued, the Bears started holding possessions a little longer, creating chances that started to become higher quality, something that really didn't happen many times in the last few matchups with the Bisons. Van Gundy then drew a foul in the 79^th, a dangerous spot right outside the Lipscomb 18-yard box, with a decent shooting angle. Lining up with Megan Moudy, the sophomore ran by, clearing the way for Van Gundy to lift a shot from right to left, curling it in over the outstretched keeper to take the lead.
 
Kayla Hurley nearly added to the lead a minute later, putting a shot on target, but it was kept out by the Bisons. Lipscomb, now in desperation mode, packed the field forward, trying to outnumber the Bear defense and find a clean look. But the Bears held, clearing the ball and forcing the Bisons to rebuild attacks with precious time to spare. With one last look in the final 20 seconds, Pruner picked it off, securing the win for Central Arkansas.
 
Thursday's win also marked the first win over Lipscomb since the Bears joined the ASUN. The Bears had previously eliminated the Bisons in PKs in the 2022 ASUN Tournament, but Thursday was the first true victory over one of the elites of the ASUN.
 
Central Arkansas is back on the pitch on Sunday, and will try to extend the winning streak against Austin Peay. Kickoff against the Governors is set for 1 p.m. in Clarksville, Tennessee.