If LSU’s place at the top of the Southeastern Conference standings show the Tigers to be the league’s biggest surprise so far, then Arkansas is a close second.
The two teams square off Friday, as LSU (6-3-2, 2-0-1 SEC) puts its status as sole conference leader on the line, facing the Razorbacks (8-3, 1-2) before heading to Alabama on Sunday for its first SEC multi-game road trip of the season.
“I think it’s a little too early to say that we have a swagger,” LSU senior goalkeeper Megan Kinneman said. “We’re happy that we’re in a good spot, but there’s still more work to do. Behind us are six or eight teams tied for second, so I don’t think we’re comfortable yet.”
LSU is coming off a home weekend that featured a draw with a formidable Tennessee squad and a near-disaster salvaged by a 3-2 double-overtime win against Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs scored two goals in the first ten minutes of that Sunday match, the second time in five matches the Tigers allowed such a feat.
Starting strong is the team’s point of emphasis this weekend, even with all three of LSU’s league matches requiring overtime.
“The first five minutes will be huge because that’s been tough for this team,” senior midfielder Addie Eggleston said. “Once we get into the game, we start playing better, so we definitely need better starts.”
With matches on Friday and Sunday for a second consecutive weekend, logic dictates that LSU would want to avoid more overtime periods.
But not necessarily, according to LSU coach Brian Lee.
“The longer the game goes on, the higher our chances of winning are,” Lee said. “We’re not wary of overtime. We feel like we’re one of the fitter, stronger, more determined teams in the country. We’ve been clearly the aggressor in overtime the last three games.”
The Razorbacks have traditionally been a sure win for LSU, with the Tigers claiming the last nine games in the series.
They made the SEC Tournament for the first time last year, and second-year coach Colby Hale has guided them to a No. 21 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) this fall.
“They’re an athletic, hard-working team that’s extremely well coached,” Lee said. “Colby has made huge strides with their program. It’ll be one more tough match in a long line of them.”
The Razorbacks are powered by a potent offense, which has produced at least three goals in four separate games, including a 3-0 shellacking of No. 14 Kentucky last weekend.
For LSU to keep up, they’ll likely need the help of reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Emma Fletcher. Fletcher is already within two assists of LSU’s freshman record with six, and she scored her first career goal in the 1-1 draw against Tennessee last Friday.
Her impact has LSU’s offense brimming with scoring chances despite a lack of eye-popping goal numbers.
“We’re attacking as well or better than we have all season,” Lee said. “As a coach, all you can ask for is the creativity in creating chances. We’re getting that. At some point, we’re due to break out and bag a bunch of goals.”