The LSU soccer team’s trip to the beach this week is all business.
The No. 8 seeded Tigers (9-7-4, 5-6-2 Southeastern Conference) are fighting for their postseason lives when they take on No. 9 seed Ole Miss in today’s opening round of the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala.
With three straight wins to end the regular season, LSU went from being one of the four teams struggling to qualify for the 10-team tournament to squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The Tigers were No. 61 in last week’s official NCAA RPI and likely need at least one win for a chance at a fifth NCAA bid in six years.
“Our updated simulated RPI is in the mid-50s, but we probably need to move up seven or eight more spots,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “One win might get us in the last five in, first five out range, but the same scenario applies to Ole Miss.”
LSU’s late-season surge began against the Rebels 10 days ago, when the Tigers erased a 2-0 halftime deficit in Oxford, Miss., for a 3-2 overtime win.
The match seemed to reverse the two teams’ fortunes. Ole Miss entered that match with a three-game win streak, but the loss started a three-match losing skid to conclude the regular season.
Playing a slew of freshmen in key spots, LSU struggled all season before beating the Rebels but now enters postseason action playing its best soccer of the season.
“We’re peaking right now, and it is the perfect time for it,” said senior forward Carlie Banks. “We have no choice because every game is an elimination one for us at this point.”
Freshman midfielder Jade Kovacevic, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, has led the late surge.
The Ontario, Canada native scored the equalizer in LSU’s 3-2 come-from-behind win against Arkansas last Thursday and assisted on another goal.
Kovacevic leads the team with 12 points along with fellow freshman midfielder Fernanda Piña.
“Jade’s been valuable in both attack and defense,” Lee said. “Even while contributing to our goals, she’s done it from the backline and center-midfield spot. That versatility is so important to us.”
She is tied for the league lead with six assists in conference play.
LSU’s youthful scoring attack will have to keep pace with a robust Rebel offense.
Ole Miss’ starting forwards are the SEC’s top two goal scorers, leading the No. 2 team offense in the conference.
Junior Mandy McCalla paces the league with 13 goals and scored both Rebel goals against LSU 10 days ago.
Joining her near the net is junior forward Rafaelle Souza, whose 12 goals ranks second in the SEC.
“That’s a dangerous attacking group with two of the best players anywhere,” Lee said. “Our backline might need its best performance of the season.”
LSU owns a five-match unbeaten streak against Ole Miss.
The winner of today’s match will face top-seeded Florida on Wednesday.
Freshman midfielder Tori Sample, 28, dribbles passed University of Florida senior defender Jo Dragotta, 14, Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 at the LSU Soccer Stadium. The Gators defeated the Tigers 2-0.
