The seventh-seeded LSU soccer team defeated the tenth-seeded University of Kentucky, 2-1, for the second time in four days in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Monday in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Junior forward Summer Clarke made her return to the starting lineup for the Tigers (12-4-4, 5-4-2 SEC) after missing four games with an ankle injury. She made several dangerous runs that put pressure on the Wildcat defense early in the first half.
LSU coach Brian Lee said he was impressed with Clarke’s performance in her first game back from injury.
“Summer’s one of the best players in the country and certainly one of the best players to ever play at LSU,” Lee said. “She’s a big part of our team. She rehabbed very hard to make it back for the SEC tournament.”
The Wildcats made several adjustments following Thursday night’s game in which LSU sophomore forward Jorian
Baucom scored two goals. Kentucky coach Jon Lipsitz switched his team’s formation from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2.
A new formation was just what the Wildcat offense needed to net the game’s first goal in the 24th minute. Sophomore forward Tanya Samarzich headed a ball from senior forward Cara Ledman just inside the left post to give Kentucky a 1-0 lead.
Lee said he was happy with the way his team responded with two second half goals to win the game despite being down at the half.
“I’m so proud of the character [shown] by our players today to come back and win it with a great second half,” Lee said. “There’s so much on the line for the teams here this week, so to regroup at halftime and get back out and take control of the game like we did in the second half is a testament to our mentality and competitiveness as a team at such an important time of the season.”
Senior midfielder Natalia Gomez-Junco wasted no time getting the second half comeback started, scoring her fifth goal of the season on a distance shot in the 46th minute. Gomez-Junco’s equalizer sparked the Tigers’ offensive onslaught in the second half.
Freshman forward Gabriela Maldonado scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute after she instinctively got her foot on Gomez-Junco’s corner kick.
LSU made a concerted effort to tighten up its defense to protect its second half lead. Junior defender Megan Lee left the game with cramps midway through the second half, forcing Clarke to move to the back line. Clarke and the LSU back line stifled multiple Wildcat
attacks, allowing six shots on goal in the end and holding Kentucky scoreless for the final 66 minutes.
LSU moves on to face the second-seeded University of Missouri at noon Wednesday in Orange Beach, Alabama, in the quarterfinals.