Imagine if the first LSU-Alabama football game last year ended in a tie with no game-winning field goal. Or imagine if the LSU-Stony Brook game one Super Regional baseball contest ended before it went to extra innings with no game-tying home runs in the 10th and 11th innings.
In most athletic competitions, there are only winners and losers. But NCAA soccer teams don’t always leave the field as one or the other.
If a score is tied after two overtime periods in regular-season soccer matchups, the teams leave the field with a tie on their record.
“Ties are tough,” said junior goalkeeper Megan Kinneman. “…You can’t just keep playing and playing. It involves a lot of running and involves a lot of fitness. There’s only so much overtime you can do.”
The LSU soccer team is familiar with ties. The Tigers have ended in a draw three times this season.
LSU soccer players have mixed feelings about ties. They understand that tied scores happen, but getting the win is always important.
Other LSU athletes don’t agree with having a tie. They want a winner.
LSU football player Eric Reid, who played soccer until he was 14, said the idea of a tie is a “bummer” for a competitor. He said the penalty kicks should be put into play during the regular season.
“It’s definitely awkward,” Reid said. “Everyone that plays sports are competitive. I definitely think they should institute a PK or something, just to get a clear winner.”
In college soccer, once teams reach conference play and the NCAA tournaments, it turns into win/lose soccer. If the score is still squared after both overtime periods, the game is decided on penalty kicks. Penalty kick shootouts haven’t been too kind to the LSU soccer team. The team’s 2009 and 2010 seasons ended on post-season penalty kick losses.
LSU football player Sam Montgomery also said he doesn’t believe in ties in sports. He said there should be a definite winner to decide who wants the win more.
“I feel like they should run it to the death,” Montgomery said. “It’s every man’s sport when you’re tied. It’s just a test of a team’s heart and will — that’s it.”
LSU volleyball players said if their sport had draws, they’d change the way they approached the game. Changes would include starting the game stronger and playing more meticulously to ensure that they’d get the win.
If volleyball ended in a draw, LSU junior middle blocker Desiree Elliott said she could not fathom how she would handle it.
“That would stink,” Elliott said. “I don’t know how they do it. It’s not losing … but if it ended in a tie, it’s like splitting a gold medal. … I wouldn’t like that at all.”
