Against all odds, LSU soccer has proved it’s here to stay in Pensacola with a comeback win against one of the SEC Tournament’s top prospects.
In a showdown of Tigers, 11-seed LSU took down 6-seed and No. 24-ranked Auburn with two goals from Gabbi Ceballos and Mollie Baker.
On the windy Sunday afternoon, Auburn came in with the upper hand after its 4-0 win at LSU in the regular season.
“We had probably our worst performance of the season in our 4-0 loss,” LSU head coach Sian Hudson said. “We talked about defending as a unit and working for each other outside of possession, and I think we did that so well across the field.”
In their second chance match, the LSU Tigers turned underdogs wanted redemption.
“There was a lot more on the line,” Ceballos said after the game.
That was quickly evident with neither team able to alter the score in the first half. LSU and Auburn were almost dead even statistically in a half with more fouls than shots, a very different story than the first matchup.
Defenders such as Jazmin Ferguson and Sydney Cheesman put in the work on LSU’s defense and kept Auburn far from the six-yard box.
“Our backline has grown so much over the course of the SEC season,” Hudson said. “They are playing for each other at such a higher level. The center back duo of Sydney Cheesman and Jazmin Ferguson has been fantastic.”
Before the match, Cheesman and midfielder Ida Hermannsdottir were named to the All-SEC Third Team.
Sophine Kevorkian started her third game in goal for LSU and recorded the only save of the game.
“I’m so happy for Sophine,” said Hudson. “She’s had to wait a long time this season to get a chance. Two clean sheets, and she came up big in some moments for us.”
For the past three consecutive seasons, LSU has gone to penalty kick shootouts in the first round of the SEC Tournament to break scoreless ties. Just when it seemed like it was this game would have the same fate, Ceballos broke the pattern 55 minutes into the game.
A heroic recovery of the ball directly in front of the goal turned into a 1-0 lead for LSU when Ceballos sent it flying past the goalkeeper.
“Honestly, I don’t even know if I should have been up there that high, but I was there when I got the ball at my feet,” Ceballos explained.
In the moment, she tried her best to remain cool, calm and collected with only one thing on her mind: putting it in the back of the net.
“Gabbi Ceballos was unbelievable from start to finish, but what a moment of composure,” said Hudson.
The game only intensified from there, with both competitors heating up as the clock honed in on them.
Baker was headed upfield when she saw her opening and made her move. A fast touch and shot on the ball was all it took to best the defender and goalkeeper in her path. Before the team knew it, LSU was up with a two-goal lead, converting its only two shots on goal.
The once cheerful Auburn sideline now shouted in frustration, desperate for just a chance. With under 20 minutes to go, it became clear history was not going to repeat itself.
In the final stages of the match, Auburn found a goal from the top of the 18-yard box, but it was not enough to fulfill their championship dreams. LSU had beaten the odds and accomplished exactly what it set out to do.
The Tigers will face 3-seed Texas in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. CT. Once again, this team prevails and lives to see another day in the SEC.
“I’m so proud of the team,” said Hudson. “We’re excited to get back out there and take on Texas on Tuesday.”
