The LSU soccer team remains winless in Southeastern Conference play after a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Kentucky on Sunday afternoon in the LSU Soccer Stadium.
LSU (4-4-3) played more consistently in its Friday night 3-1 loss to Auburn, but the team still shot only eight times in each game. Kentucky outshot the Tigers with 19 kicks at the goal.
“The kids just regrouped and recognized that you gotta fight and you gotta be tough if you’re gonna win in the SEC,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “I thought they did a great job.”
Kentucky (8-2-0) scored its first goal in the 27th minute off of a Courtney Raetzman header with an assist from Kelli Hubly. After the goal, the Tigers huddled near the goal for the first time this season.
“On Friday we were playing really well, then we gave up the goal and everyone kind of stared around and looked at each other,” Lee said. “That’s the way you should react — regroup and let’s go get ’em.”
The Tigers’ lone goal came from a penalty kick early in the second half by junior goalkeeper Megan Kinneman. It was Kinneman’s first career penalty kick and the first goal of her career.
“I knew we needed to get back in the game, and that was my way to contribute,” Kinneman said. “Keeping the ball out of the net and then I had my opportunity to score.”
As the game went on, LSU grew exhausted. The Wildcats substituted six players throughout the game, and the Tigers substituted three. In the second overtime period, Kentucky took four shots, while LSU did not get any shots off.
Kentucky’s game-winning goal came from Raetzman in the 106th minute with a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar and bounced over the goal line.
“I think it’s some of the best effort we’ve put in for a while,” Kinneman said. “It’s tough we didn’t get the win.”
Five LSU players were missing from action, most notably freshmen Jade Kovacevic, Heather Magee and Colby Maffei.
“We just had some team stuff,” Lee said. “They’ll be back with us on Tuesday.”
