The LSU soccer team has accomplished many firsts this season.
The team defeated its first top-10 opponent with a 3-0 win against Tennessee on Oct. 5, causing the team to be nationally-ranked for the first time the following Monday.
With a 5-2-4 conference record, LSU also won its first Southeastern Conference Western Division Championship.
LSU accomplished another first Wednesday night as the team recorded its first shootout victory in school history, defeating Auburn, 4-2, with penalty kicks, following a 2-2 tie.
“The girls showed great character and great resolve to keep coming back from behind,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “We played great from behind for the better part of the game, and we had several shots on frame, but we weren’t able to break through until it counted.”
LSU outshot Auburn 9-6 in the first half of play, but Auburn was more efficient, recording all six shots on goal to just three for LSU.
Senior goalkeeper Valerie Vogler was dominant in the first 45 minutes, recording six saves to send the game to halftime scoreless.
Auburn freshman midfielder Monica Afanador and sophomore forward Caitlin King caused the LSU defense problems, each recording two shots on goal for Auburn.
LSU picked up the tempo in the first 10 minutes of the second half with a pair of shots by sophomore All-SEC midfielder Michelle Makasini, but King helped Auburn withstand LSU’s surge early on, assisting a goal by junior Kara Kasten in the 58th minute to give Auburn a 1-0 advantage.
Makasini answered Auburn’s goal two minutes later, hammering the ball into the back of the net following a through-ball from senior midfielder Caroline Vanderpool to bring LSU even at 1-1.
Auburn again took control of the match in the 67th minute on Kasten’s second goal, beating Vogler with a header to give Auburn a 2-1 lead.
After thwarting Auburn’s scoring threats, sophomore Rachel Yepez scored her SEC-best 14th goal of the season in the 79th minute to tie the game at 2-2.
LSU continued to be aggressive following the Yepez equalizer, keeping the game inside Auburn’s penalty area. LSU could not score after getting a pair of corner kicks, sending the game to overtime.
Neither team recorded an official shot in the first overtime period, but LSU was the aggressor, getting a corner kick opportunity.
In the second overtime session, sophomore midfielders Melissa Clarke and Amanda Carreno had shots saved by Auburn junior goalkeeper Allison Whitworth, forcing the game to be decided by penalty kicks.
During the penalty kicks, LSU was perfect as sophomore midfielder Malorie Rutledge, Clarke, freshman midfielder Taryne Boudreau and sophomore defender Chelsea Potts connected for LSU to lead the team to victory, following two saves by Vogler.
Lee said he was confident the team would be victorious once the game went to penalties because Vogler is difficult to score on in one-on-one situations.
“We felt really good about the penalties, because the kids have been training a lot and have done a great job with them,” Lee said. “We always feel like [Vogler] will save one or two out of the five. So that gives your team a big advantage.”
LSU now moves to the semifinals to take on top-seeded Florida.
Lee said although he expects LSU to have automatically clinched an NCAA Tournament birth, the Tigers will try to enhance their resume against the Gators.
“We feel good that we have done enough,” Lee said. “But you can always do more, but it will be a big challenge because we feel like Florida is playing as well as anybody in the country.”
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]