The LSU soccer team (8-4-1, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) salvaged the weekend and its postseason hopes by defeating Mississippi State (7-6-1, 1-2 SEC) on Sunday 2-1, after losing to Ole Miss (11-2, 2-1 SEC) Friday night, 3-0.
“If we didn’t win, there would be no post season,” said junior forward Artie Brown who scored what ended up being the game winning goal. “We played like it was our last game. We executed what our coaches told us to. We won and we’re happy.”
Before Sunday’s game, the Tigers had not scored a goal against a SEC opponent this season. Brown and senior forward Stephanie Keating ended LSU’s scoring drought.
“The goals came off of us doing what we needed to do,” said senior midfielder Rachel Cohen. “It was more of us getting back into a rhythm and playing our game instead of thinking of it as an SEC game. The past three games, we’ve just been really undisciplined and unfocused. In this game we came together as a team, and we did what we needed to do to get through.”
LSU coach George Fotopoulos decided to change the starting lineup for Sunday’s game. LSU’s two top goal scorers and usual starters, freshman forward Stacy Bishop and Brown, were on the sideline to start the game.
“I think in coaching there has to be fairness,” Fotopoulos said. “In all fairness to the people on the sidelines, they put the same work in at practice and this past week they really put in great effort. Those players that were subbed out really haven’t produced.” Fotopoulos was pleased with Bishop’s output off the bench against Mississippi State and credited her with a goal even though the score keepers did not award it to her.
“She did some good things,” he said. “I give her credit for the first goal. Her run was just fantastic. She got baseline and was able to get the ball back in the space. Even though Keating got the goal and Brown got the assist, that was Bishop’s effort. So that was positive.”
Brown said the time on the bench served as motivation for her to play well.
“It definitely worked,” she said. “When I got in, I wanted to show everybody else that I still have it and that I still want to score.”
Sophomore defender Tara Mitnick said the team should enjoy the win, but it needs to stay focused on improving and preparing for Georgia.
“We can’t dwell on this victory and go into Georgia thinking we are so good and get our butt kicked again,” Mitnick said.