On a chilly night at the LSU Soccer Complex, the No. 20 LSU Tigers battled the No. 25 South Carolina Gamecocks to a 1-1 draw.
The Tigers (10-2-6, 4-1-4 SEC) jumped to an early lead and held onto it for the majority of the game.
Sophomore Rachel Yepez scored the first goal of the match, her Southeastern Conference leading twelfth of the season, at the 36:18 mark of the first half.
Yepez received a cross from sophomore Malorie Rutledge and put the ball past senior goal keeper Laura Armstrong from the top of the 6-yard box. It was Rutledge’s SEC-leading 12th assist on the season.
LSU is only the second team to get a goal by Armstrong. Prior to the match, the keeper boasted a 5-1 record in goal this season, with all five of the wins being shutouts.
Throughout the game, the Gamecocks (12-4-2, 4-3-1 SEC) had numerous opportunities to match LSU’s score, but they continually fell short until very late in the second half.
After having eight unsuccessful corner kick opportunities and a header from senior Erin Sullivan hitting the crossbar, South Carolina finally matched the Tigers’ score with a goal of their own with 3:40 left to play in the second half.
Junior Danila Monteiro scored the equalizer, her seventh goal of the season, when she ripped a shot from the top of the penalty area. The shot squeezed just inside the right post and past senior goal keeper Valerie Vogler.
Monteiro was unassisted on the goal.
Coach Brian Lee said he expected the Gamecocks to capitalize on their opportunities even earlier than they did.
“I thought the goal was coming,” he said. “I’m surprised they didn’t score sooner.”
With the score, South Carolina pushed LSU into its sixth overtime game of the season. LSU is 0-0-6 when games go into overtime this season.
Each team had their opportunities to score in the overtime periods.
Yepez had a shot on goal saved by Armstrong in the 103rd minute of the match, and a South Carolina shot was barely tipped aside by Vogler as it bounced through the penalty area.
Lee credited South Carolina for its tough play throughout the second half.
“They are a solid top-25 team, and I don’t think we played our best,” he said. “I think South Carolina had something to do with that.”
South Carolina Coach Shelley Smith was happy with her team’s ability to hang tough throughout the game.
“We did a tremendous job to battle back,” she said. “We solidified our defensive effort throughout the second half.”
With the tie, LSU moves into sole possession of first place in the SEC West.
“It’s a good thing this late in the season,” Lee said. “The SEC is one of the top conferences in the country.”
Before the game, the three Tiger seniors Vogler, Caroline Vanderpool and Sara Pollock were honored. It was their last home game as Tigers.
Vanderpool was not happy with the outcome of the game, but was pleased with the senior night festivities.
“I would’ve liked to win, but it’s been an amazing night,” she said. “Everyone has worked hard to make this special.”
——Contact Johanathan Brooks at [email protected]