With berths to the Southeastern Conference Tournament out there waiting to be captured, the Tigers helped their cause Friday by avoiding a loss and getting a double-overtime, 1-1 tie against Vanderbilt.
However, another key game on Sunday versus Kentucky was canceled due to inclement weather conditions in the Baton Rouge area.
In Friday’s match, LSU took an early 1-0 lead on Artie Brown’s first-half goal. The muddy conditions forced the Vandy keeper to misplay what appeared to be a cross. The cross deflected off the keeper and into the goal.
Both teams had 16 shots, but Vanderbilt had more quality chances. The Commodores could not capitalize until the 85th minute when a laser from 45 yards out by Lizzy Johnson beat LSU goalie Robyn DesOrmeaux in the upper-right corner of the goal.
The teams played through driving rain and visible puddles on the field for the majority of the game.
“These were very tough conditions to play in,” head coach George Fotopoulos said. “Both teams knew it was a must-not-lose situation. I thought when they scored it was really going to be a back breaker for us. I thought everybody was going to put their heads down and we were going to get ourselves in trouble.”
In addition to the standing puddles of water and the rain, the game was also extremely physical. This carried into the two overtime periods where the two teams traded chances before the game ended in a draw.
Fotopoulos was encouraged because the Tigers avoided their fourth straight loss and stayed alive in the pursuit for a spot in the SEC Tournament.
“The thing about this result is it puts us in a situation where we still have two games to play in the SEC,” Fotopoulos said. “Getting a point — it’s good because you’re still in the hunt. I still think if we can get a couple of points, we can put ourselves in position.”