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KENNESAW, Ga. – With a goal in the fifth minute of the match freshman forward Shannon Driscoll sent the No. 3 seeded Kennesaw State soccer team to a 1-0 win over No. 6 seed Lipscomb in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament on a chilly Saturday (Nov. 2) night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
With the win, the Owls (9-8-1) advance to the A-Sun Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2010, when KSU tied East Tennessee State, 0-0, in double overtime but advanced on penalty kicks. KSU next faces No. 2 seed Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Florida Gulf Coast University Soccer Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (ET).
 
Looking for a fast start, Kennesaw State pressured the Lipscomb (6-8-5) defense from the beginning. Just five minutes into the match, Driscoll gave the Owls an early 1-0 lead with her third goal of the season on redshirt-junior defender Jewelia Strickland's corner kick service. Junior midfielder Nicole Calder headed a shot towards the Lipscomb goal that was blocked to Driscoll, who finished into the back of the net for the game-winner.
 
The Owls continued to pressure throughout the first half, outshooting the Bisons 11 to one in the opening period.
 
Early in the second half the Owls had the opportunity to push their lead to 2-0 after KSU was awarded a penalty kick when freshman forward Maggie Gaughan was pulled down inside the 18-yard box. Lipscomb goalkeeper Anna Buhigas denied redshirt-junior defender Alma Gardarsdottir's attempt to keep the score at 1-0.
 
With the clock winding down the Bisons pressured for the equalizing score, but the KSU backline and freshman goalkeeper Olivia Sturdivant held strong to earn the victory.
 
The Owls outshot Lipscomb, 20 to seven, with 10 shots on goal to the Bisons' three. Gaughan led the way for KSU with five shots, including four on frame.
 
KSU earned six corners in the match, while the Owl defense held Lipscomb to only two corners in the contest. Both teams combined for 21 fouls.
Sturdivant totaled three saves, all in the second half, for her seventh shutout of the season. Buhigas registered nine saves in the loss.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State soccer news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 

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