The LSU soccer team wrapped up a disappointing weekend on Sundaydropping two straight Southeastern Conference matches.
With the two losses, the Tigers now have lost six straight andare 1-8-1 in the last ten games.
Despite a record-tying performance by senior Artie Brown, LSU(6-11, 1-8-1 SEC) fell to No. 25 Florida on Friday night 2-1.
Brown provided the Tigers with their only goal of the night,scoring in the 81st minute for her 36th career goal. With the goal,Brown tied the record set by Jackie Cooper, who played at LSU from1995-1996.
Brown also tied Cooper’s record of 82 points with thegoal.
Co-head coach George Fotopolous said Brown and sophomore StaceyBishop did a good job of earning the goal.
“Stacey Bishop had an awesome shot and Artie was at theright place at the right time,” Fotopolous said. “Shedid what she needed to do to put it in the back of the net. It gotour momentum going again.”
Florida (11-3-3, 5-2-2) jumped on the Tigers late in the firsthalf when KeLeigh Hudson put a shot in from 18 yards to give theGators a 1-0 lead.
Hudson also provided the Gators with their second goal, scoringin the 71st minute to put Florida up 2-0.
Following Brown’s goal in the 81st minute, LSU was unableto capitalize in the final minutes as the Tigers did not getanother shot off.
Fotopolous said the team played hard despite the loss.
“The Gators came out and played hard,” Fotopoloussaid. “I think we played hard and we had ouropportunities.”
Fotopolous added he was pleased with the defensive effort.
“Our defense played hard,” Fotopolous said.”Valerie Vogler came with some big saves for us. It was agreat game all around.”
Vogler put together five saves in the loss.
Florida dominated from the beginning, out-shooting the Tigers22-10. The Gators finished with eight shots on goal while LSU hadjust six.
With the loss, LSU dropped to 0-6-1 against Florida alltime.
The Tigers dropped their second game of the weekend on Sunday,losing to South Carolina 2-1 at Eugene Stone III Stadium inColumbia, S.C.
The Tigers jumped on the Gamecocks early, scoring in the 33rdminute on a penalty kick by Bishop.
LSU held South Carolina scoreless the rest of the half, yet gaveup an early goal in the second half when Sarah Lentz put SouthCarolina on the board in the 54th minute.
South Carolina took the lead for good in the 82nd minute on across-rebound by Courtney Cobbs.
Brown’s last attempt to tie fell short in the 88th minuteas South Carolina goalkeeper Laura Armstrong blocked Brown’sshot to give the Gamecocks the win.
Vogler had another dominating performance, putting up nine savesin the loss.
Yet the LSU offense struggled once again, putting up just fourshots compared to South Carolina’s 14.
LSU will wrap up the regular season this weekend, taking onArkansas Friday and Southern on Sunday in the Mayor’sCup.