Date Posted: 10/22/2007

MACON, Ga. – Lipscomb entered the weekend on the precipice of clinching its first berth in the Atlantic Sun Men’s Soccer Championships. Freshman Miguel DaSilva helped ensure the Bisons of their spot with four goals in two games leading the Bisons to a win and a tie, both on the road, and securing his first Player of the Week award, the conference office announced on Monday.

DaSilva gave his team an early lift in Friday’s match with Florida Gulf Coast. He scored in the second minute providing all the offense Lipscomb would need. The Bisons added a second goal later in the half and held on for a 2-0 win. The win guaranteed Lipscomb a spot at the Atlantic Sun Championships for the first time in its five years in the league. The Bisons won their fourth conference game, significant in that over the previous three years, the Bisons won three.

Two days later, facing regionally ranked Stetson, DaSilva, a redshirt freshman from Lauderhill, Fla., turned in the second hat trick in the Atlantic Sun of 2007. He scored the three goals in a span of less than 12 minutes as Lipscomb jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to see Stetson forge back and salvage a tie. At 4-1-2, the Bisons have secured a top-four seed in the Championship and can improve their seed in the final weekend of conference play when they face the team immediately ahead of them, the Jacksonville Dolphins at home on Friday. Two days later, Lipscomb hosts UNF.

DaSilva’s Belmont Boulevard rival goalkeeper Ron Gravely fared almost as well against the Hatters and Eagles. After suffering a setback against Stetson, Gravely responded with a shutout against Florida Gulf Coast. He turned away four shots on goal and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard and after a late Bruins goal, protected the one-goal win. The shutout was Gravely’s fifth of the season, to pace the conference. The sophomore from Dallas earned his first defensive Player of the Week award. The five shutouts tie him for the second-most in a season in team history. Kyle Roelke had five shutouts last season. Matt Renfrow holds the record with six shutouts in the 2003 season.

More importantly for Gravely and for the Bruins, the win moved the Bruins to seven points in conference play and ahead of Gardner-Webb and Mercer in the standings. They sit in fifth place among the seven eligible to compete in the Conference Championship and can secure their spot with either a win, a Mercer loss or two Gardner-Webb losses. The Bruins will face two challenging opponents, UNF and Jacksonville, this weekend, both at home.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Jake Goergen, LIP (Sr. - GK - Kingsland, Ga. - Health-P.E.- Teaching) -- Shut down Florida Gulf Coast 2-0 making three saves Oct. 19 and turned back 11 shots in 3-3 tie at Stetson Sunday.

Aaron Johnson, CAM (Jr. - GK - St. Charles, Mo. - Business Administration) -- Johnson notched 2nd shutout of 2007 in 1-0 victory over USC Upstate; Lowered his GAA to 1.12, second in the A-Sun.

Josue Soto, CAM (Fr. - MF - Monterrey, Mexico - International Business) -- Scored 7th goal of 2007 in CU's 4-3 comeback vs Gardner-Webb; Assisted on Richard Jata's 90th minute GW goal vs USC Upstate.

Eugene Starikov, STET (Fr. - F - Palm Harbor, Fla. - International Business) -- Scored both goals in the Spartans' 2-1 victory over Gardner-Webb Sunday night in Upstate's only A-Sun game of the week.

Related Links:
 • This Week in A-Sun Men's Soccer