Behind senior midfielder Natalie Martineau’s two goals and a gritty defensive effort, the LSU soccer team bounced back from a heartbreaking loss on Friday to defeat No. 10 Kentucky, 2-0, in Lexington, Ky., on Sunday.
The victory kept the No. 18 Tigers — now 5-1 in league play — tied for the overall lead in the Southeastern Conference with No. 2 Florida. LSU (10-4-1) also owns a two-game lead in the SEC West over preseason favorite Auburn.
LSU, which split the weekend road trip after a 2-1 loss to Vanderbilt,  became the first team to win on Kentucky’s home turf this season by stunting an aggressive Wildcat offensive push and using some timely scoring from Martineau in a typically physical Sunday match.
Just before halftime, junior midfielder Natalie Ieyoub played a through ball to Martineau, who snuck past the back line before dribbling around Kentucky freshman goalie Kayla Price and finding the empty net on the shot to put LSU ahead, 1-0.
“When you’re able to force a keeper out of the net, it makes the chances easier, especially off the great passing from the midfield,” said LSU coach Brian Lee.
Martineau wasn’t done, though, taking a pass from senior Taryne Boudreau in the 66th minute and finding the far post from 10 yards out for a 2-0 LSU advantage.
Martineau has been the Tigers’ primary facilitator this year, notching eight assists this fall before tripling her total goals scored with two against the Wildcats.
“We’ve got a lot of faith in Natalie’s ability to create goals, whether it’s passing or setting things up,” Lee said. “The finishing touches just happened to fall her way fulfilling.”
And LSU needed the win and three points after an exhilarating and ultimately frustrating loss at Vanderbilt on Friday night. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute after sophomore Addie Eggleston cleaned up a deflected shot by junior striker Carlie Banks and buried the ball in the net from six yards out.
But LSU played perhaps its sloppiest match of the season, committing 16 fouls to set up numerous Commodore free kicks, one of which set up the tying goal in the 68th minute.
LSU dominated the overtime action, but couldn’t capitalize on several crosses in the penalty box throughout the extra action before Vanderbilt freshman forward Gena Inbusch pushed the golden goal past LSU senior goalkeeper Mo Isom in the 103rd minute. It was the Tigers’ first loss since a 1-0 Sept. 2 setback at Rice, which also came in two overtimes.
“We played well enough to win, got the lead, but just gave away too many free kicks,” Lee said. “But the weekend was fantastic overall. Getting a split on a tough SEC road trip isn’t a