The LSU soccer team got its engine started a little too late in a 2-1 loss to Georgia on a cold night at the LSU Soccer Stadium.
After going unbeaten in their first six Southeastern Conference games, the Tigers (9-6-2, 5-3-1 SEC) suffered their third-straight loss Friday. LSU’s lone goal against the Bulldogs (11-5-1, 4-4-1 SEC) is its first during its three-game losing skid.
“We’ve got to get back to where it means a lot to us whether we win or lose,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “I thought we opened the game really lethargic, not tackling, not running to the necessary levels. Then we just spent the rest of the game digging ourselves out. Once we got a goal, we had a little rush about us, but that’s about it.”
Georgia struck less than three minutes into the game when freshman forward Rachel Garcia knocked in a header on a cross by senior defender Nikki Hill. The Bulldogs continued to press the LSU back line, but senior goalkeeper Megan Kinneman held fast for five saves in the first half.
Though the Tigers were on the defensive for the better part of the first period, they found their offensive flow late and fired off six shots before halftime. But LSU struggled out of the break and failed to muster much of an offensive threat in the second half.
“I think we need to put a little more effort, like the extra tackle and extra sprint,” said freshman forward Summer Clarke. “Just doing that a little better will result in more goals.”
Georgia freshman forward Marion Crowder put the Bulldogs up 2-0 when she scored her eleventh goal of the season in the 65th minute. Crowder navigated around defenders in the box and struck a right-footed kick into the left corner of the net.
The Tigers narrowed the lead to 2-1 when junior midfielder Jodi Calloway scored following a botched corner kick. Sophomore midfielder Fernanda Piña provided the through-ball on the goal.
LSU put immense pressure on the Georgia back line in the final minutes of the game, but it wasn’t able to break through for the equalizer.
“It was a little too late,” Lee said. “We’ve got to be a more mature about our approach, and we need to be a little more ready at the start of these games.”
The Tigers will hit the road for a showdown with No. 25 Kentucky at 12 p.m. on Sunday.