The LSU soccer team opened the renovated LSU Soccer Stadium this weekend in style with a win and a draw against two previously unbeaten opponents.
On Sunday afternoon, the Tigers concluded the four-team LSU Invitational by playing No. 13 Pepperdine to a 1-1 draw in a double-overtime seesaw match.
Trailing 1-0 in the 60th minute, LSU senior midfielder Natalie Martineau took a pass near the right goalpost after a corner kick sequence and found freshman striker Alex Arlitt for the equalizing header from just five yards out.
“Normally, I’ll go in for a two vs. one or two vs. two, but it wasn’t working against them,” Martineau said. “So we crossed it in, and I stayed by the back post and played it back into the six-yard box for Alex, who made a great almost.”
After 90 minutes of action, the two teams played a pair of 10-minute overtime sessions. LSU dominated the possession, but couldn’t produce the “golden goal” clincher.
The Tigers nearly won the game when Martineau broke free near the net in the 105th minute, but she couldn’t put a weak ball past Pepperdine junior goalkeeper Roxanne Barker.
“Pepperdine is very good, deserving of their ranking,” Lee said. “It was an even game for a large portion of the contest. I thought we were pushing and pushing in the overtimes, and had the chances for a winner. But a draw is not a bad