Better late than never.
The LSU soccer team salvaged the opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play when junior midfielder Natalie Martineau scored in the 88th minute Sunday to give LSU a 1-1 tie against Tennessee following a 1-0 loss against Georgia.
Martineau’s last-gasp goal prevented the Tigers (3-5-2, 0-1-1) from starting SEC play 0-2 for the first time in head coach Brian Lee’s tenure. It was the first time since 2005 that LSU failed to win one of its first two conference games.
“We would have liked to have two draws or a win and a draw, and we probably played well enough to do that, but we didn’t [get a victory], so we’ll take it and move on,” said LSU coach Brian Lee.
Against Tennessee (4-5-1, 1-0-1), LSU started out fast, outshooting the Lady Vols 7-4 in the first half. However, freshman goalkeeper Megan Kinneman allowed a goal on a corner kick that left the Tigers trailing at halftime.
However, Kinneman saved four shots in the second half to keep LSU in the game.
Kinneman’s spot in goal was the latest development in a goalkeeper battle that has seen junior goalkeeper Mo Isom unseated as the team’s sole netminder.
Isom played Friday against Georgia, and Lee said the coaching staff had decided beforehand to play each goalkeeper during the weekend. 
The weekend-saving equalizer came when junior defender Allysha Chapman played a ball into the box that was finished by Martineau from six yards out.
Any momentum gained from Martineau’s goal failed to materialize in overtime play. In 20 minutes of extra time, Tennessee outshot LSU 10-2, including 7-0 in the second overtime period.
“They probably had four or five shots in one little flurry, and at that point we were just trying to get the draw and get out of there,” said Lee. “A lot of their chances were long range, but they definitely had the run of second overtime.”
Chapman’s move to forward for the second half was yet another move in a season that has seen the lineup consistently shuffled in search of the right combination. 
To fill Chapman’s void, sophomore Hannah Jobe came in on the back line, playing a season-high 71 minutes.
The defense has now gone seven consecutive games without allowing multiple goals and has done so in nine out of 10 games this season.
While the defense has progressed throughout the season, the offense has shown little resemblance to the team that opened the season with an eight-goal romp.
In the nine matches following their 8-0 win against South Alabama, the Tigers have scored only five goals.
Those offensive struggles were on full display Friday against Georgia (6-2-2, 1-0-1), when LSU was outshot 15-4. The Tigers managed just three shots on goal, all of which came from freshman forward Addie Eggleston.
However, Lee said he hopes to see a spark from his team after their late-minute heroics Sunday.
“It was a real character test, and for this young team to come through in a real important moment is a big step forward,” Lee said. 
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Contact Ryan Ginn at [email protected].