The LSU soccer team pulled off a third straight comeback win, clinching a spot in next week’s Southeastern Conference Tournament with a 3-2 home victory Thursday against Arkansas on Senior Night.
The Razorbacks (9-9-1, 6-6-1 SEC) grabbed a 2-0 lead with goals in the 31st and 33rd minutes, but LSU freshman Fernanda Piña’s 86th minute strike completed the Tigers’ second two-goal comeback in three games.
“Twice in one week to that — it shows that the team is carrying the good character it’s had all year to the soccer field,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “The contributions came from everybody.”
LSU (9-7-4, 5-7-2 SEC) also beat Ole Miss, 3-2, last Friday after falling behind 2-0 in the first half.
The Razorbacks took advantage of two early LSU miscues to give the Tigers an early mountain to climb.
Forward Ashleigh Ellenwood buried a free kick off an LSU foul, followed by midfielder Jeriann Okoro’s easy goal off an errant pass by the Tiger backline.
Though they were down, the Tigers felt they had the Razorbacks right where they wanted them.
“We had dominated the entire first half, but kind of handed them a few easy ones,” said senior forward Carlie Banks. “It wasn’t a question that we were going to come back.”
Freshman midfielder Jade Kovacevic and sophomore Jodi Calloway kickstarted the process, as Kovacevic lofted a corner kick that a leaping Calloway headed into the net late in the first half.
“That goal changed the complexion of the game,” Lee said. “Going into the locker room only down one made the task less daunting. We believed the game was still ours.”
Kovacevic wasn’t done yet.
Midway through the second period, she took a free kick from the top of the penalty box, curving it into the top-right corner of the net to even the score at 2-2.
“You work on free kicks in practice forever for chances like that,” Kovacevic said. “I had a job to do for the seniors tonight, and luckily the kick helped.”
LSU continued its second-half dominance, but couldn’t find the net for several minutes as the match turned chippy on both sides.
Tiger junior midfielder Alex Ramsey and two Razorbacks earned yellow cards in a physical second-half.
With both defenses punishing scoring threats, Piña finally wiggled behind the Arkansas defense, sealing the victory with a left-footed boot from 10 yards out.
“[Piña’s] goal, that’s the product of us just finally meshing after we started so slow,” Kovacevic said. “It’s taken a lot of overtimes and close losses to get here and finally win one like that. That goal was the proof.”
LSU’s third straight win to close the regular season also secured the Tigers’ sixth straight SEC Tournament bid, which was in serious jeopardy with LSU in 12th place only one week ago.
Now the Tigers will head to Orange Beach, Ala. with the No. 8 seed and will play the No. 9 seed, Ole Miss, on Monday.
“I’d rather not go to the [SEC] tournament and fall behind again,” Lee said. “It’s stressful but it can build momentum, too. This one was special, to send out the seniors so emotionally.”
