The LSU soccer team stayed in the thick of a tight Southeastern Conference title race with a 2-0 victory Sunday at Alabama to earn a weekend split in the state.
The Tigers (11-5-1, 6-2 SEC) lost at No. 22 Auburn, 3-1, on Friday night in a key divisional tilt that brought Auburn within one game of LSU in the SEC West and continued LSU’s road woes.
But a possession-fueled and forceful LSU offense helped the Tigers bounce back with a victory against Alabama and regain a first-place tie for the overall SEC lead with No. 2 Florida after the Gators fell to a weak Mississippi State squad, 1-0, on Sunday.
The LSU forwards routinely found their way past Crimson Tide defenders, tallying 21 total shots, six shots on goal and six corner kicks.
Despite the Tigers’ aggressive offensive sets, LSU couldn’t get anything past Alabama senior goalkeeper Justine Bernier — a member of Canada’s national women’s team — until the 40th minute.
Two Tiger substitutes accounted for the breakthrough goal, as sophomore reserve Danielle Murphy slipped a pass behind the Alabama defense to redshirt freshman midfielder Kaley Blades, who drew Bernier out of the net and buried her second goal of the season for a 1-0 LSU lead.
“Danielle played a great through ball to give Kaley a nice one-on-one look at the net and she finished it well,” said LSU coach Brian Lee.
Murphy has only played sparingly in three matches this season, but Lee said her slick play against a swarming Crimson Tide midfield was a key component of his team’s strong offensive looks.
“She’s been practicing so well lately and the flow of the game presented the opportunity to get her in there,” Lee said. “She set up that first goal and came in late in the second half to help us seal the game. It’s a great example of the reward good practice work can