The LSU soccer team extended its unbeaten season at home on Friday night, defeating Mississippi State, 1-0. The Tigers carried over their momentum from last Sunday’s 1-0 win at Arkansas and picked up two consecutive wins against Southeastern Conference opponents for the first time this season.
Senior midfielder Natalia Gomez-Junco buried a free kick from near midfield nine minutes into the match for the only score of the night. The game winner was Gomez-Junco’s third goal of the season.
The set piece specialist said she used the past offseason to perfect her free-kick craft.
“It’s something i’ve practiced for almost a year,” Gomez-Junco said. “I knew it was going to make a difference at some point. We were lucky to get that spot after the foul.”
Senior defender Alex Arlitt said she expects nothing less from her fellow senior every time she lines up for a free kick.
“When she took it i was just thinking, ‘this is going to be a goal’,” Arlitt said. “Sure enough she went to take it, it curved perfectly and it went in. I’m proud of her.”
The Bulldogs (4-9-3, 2-5-2 SEC) outshot LSU (10-4-3, 4-4-1 SEC), 12 to 10, but were only able to get two shots on target. Arlitt and freshman defender Alex Thomas were able to lead a solid defensive effort for LSU in the victory, and senior goalkeeper Catalina Rubiano picked up her second consecutive clean sheet.
The Tigers entered the night in tenth place in the SEC standings, one spot ahead of Mississippi State for the final spot in the SEC tournament. Tonight’s three points give LSU some separation from the rest of the pack.
LSU coach Brian Lee said this was a critical victory.
“It was a big win,” said Lee. “The SEC is so tough nowadays. There’s no easy games, and i thought tonight was a great, grinding performance, which you have to be able to do if you’re going to be successful.”
Lee said the SEC has improved as a conference and has several talented teams. LSU got off to an 0-3 start in conference play but has climbed back to .500 against SEC teams with two games remaining.
“I think they’re all still in (the SEC tournament picture) with two games to go.” Lee said. “That’s a new type of SEC. So, we’ll have to recover and get ready for South Carolina on Sunday.”
The Tigers will host the Gamecocks at 1 p.m on Sunday in their final home game of the year. LSU is now 8-0-3 at the LSU Soccer Stadium this season and will have an opportunity to wrap up its first unbeaten season at home since 2007.