The LSU soccer team (9-7-1, 2-6 SEC) dropped both of its games last weekend and now is out of contention for the Southeastern Conference tournament.
“I’m really disappointed,” said sophomore defender Tara Mitnick. “We’re going to be sitting at home while everyone else is there having the same great experience that we had last year.”
LSU grabbed the early lead at Alabama on Friday night, but the Tide (8-7-2,1-4-2) overcame the early deficit to grab their first SEC win of the season.
“This was a tough game to lose after getting off to such a good start, but once they [Alabama] got up 3-1 it was just too much for our team to overcome and that is the bottom line,” said LSU coach George Fotopoulos.
Junior forward Artie Brown set a LSU record for fastest goal scored to open a match with a goal just 21 seconds into the game.
The two teams were tied at half, but two goals off corner kicks gave the Tide the advantage in the end. Freshman forward Stacy Bishop brought the Tigers within one goal and had the chance to tie the game on a free kick with ten seconds remaining in the game, but her shot sailed wide left.
“I really think all these games that we lost we could have won,” said freshman midfielder Michelle DesCespedes. “It’s the little things we need to correct. We’re a really young team. I think it was a lack of experience.”
The Tigers are now 1-7-1 against the Tide.
Things did not get any better for LSU on Sunday as the defending SEC champion Auburn Tigers (12-2-3, 5-1-2) used its senior day to clinch at least a share of the SEC West title by defeating LSU 3-0.
“This was a tough match versus a very good team on their home field and we were not able to do anything offensively all game,” said LSU coach George Fotopoulos. “Auburn is a very good team and they played well and did what they had to do to get a win.”
Auburn jumped up on the visiting Tigers early with a goal just 1:48 into the game. LSU was then again hurt on a defensive corner as Auburn made it a 2-0 game with 15:14 to go in the first half.
“We knew that was our weakness coming into the game, but we were still ineffective,” said senior midfielder Jen deHay. “We’re undisciplined and don’t clear the ball out on corner kicks especially.”
Auburn outshot LSU 12-3 and had six shots on goal compared to LSU’s two. Auburn also had five corner chances while LSU finished with just one.
It was a physical game with the two teams combining for 34 fouls. LSU received three yellow cards during the game.
Fotopoulos started all underclassmen to begin the second half at Auburn.
“The team that started is our team next year and you got to give them experience,” Mitnick said.
LSU’s loss continued Auburn’s dominance of LSU on Auburn’s home turf as the Bayou Bengals have not been able to grab a victory there. Auburn leads the series 6-4.
“We were hoping to win this one, come together and do it for each other, but we were unable to do it,” DesCepedes said.
deHay said she is disappointed to end her LSU career this way, but it’s time for the seniors to move on.
“It’s pretty disappointing because you want to go out on a good note,” deHay said. “But we’ve had our time and now it’s the underclassmen’s turn to get some experience under their belt.”
The Tigers have three games remaining on their schedule and will face off against Nicholls State on Wednesday in Thibodaux.
They also play on the road at Arkansas on Friday and return home to play Southern on Sunday.