In a match that was anyone’s game, LSU soccer struggled to make up lost ground in less-than-ideal circumstances. The Tigers lost 2-1 to the Kentucky Wildcats on Thursday night.
LSU conceded a goal in the last five minutes against Kentucky, which cost them the game.
After the Wildcats knocked them out of the SEC Tournament on penalty kicks in 2023, the Tigers were ready for revenge. Instead, they left Lexington with their fourth loss in the SEC and a 2-4-0 record.
Head Coach Sian Hudson began the match with some changes in the offensive starters including benching goal-leader Ida Hermannsdottir for the first time this season. Other consistent starters were replaced by Angelina Thoreson, Andrea Iljkic and Ava Amsden.
The clock had barely started when LSU’s first mistake came barreling down the midfield and towards the goal, catching the defense off guard. Kentucky goal-leader Makayla Woods made the 60-yard dash with the ball and made her shot on goalkeeper Audur Scheving.
An offside call was reviewed and eventually disregarded, confirming the goal. LSU’s retaliation to the decision permitted a team yellow card, not exactly the start the Tigers wanted.
Not even at the three-minute mark, LSU already had its work cut out for it.
After 15 minutes of fighting to get back in the game, forward Sage Glover took a shot in the 18-yard box blocked by a handball. Now, LSU’s first big opportunity in the match would be, ironically, a penalty kick.
Glover sent the ball to the goal’s lower left corner and was saved by the Kentucky goalkeeper, a missed chance to make a quick comeback.
A little over halfway through the first 45, Hermannsdottir finally arrived onto the field. The Tigers were quickly becoming the faster and more dominant team as they started to hold possession of the ball away from Kentucky.
Just as LSU was finding its footing, defender Jazmin Ferguson fouled a Kentucky player inside of the 18 and gave the Wildcats their chance at a penalty kick. Scheving saved the kick, and the team suffered no consequences for their second slip-up of the night.
When halftime approached, the Tigers remained scoreless with only two shot attempts versus Kentucky’s seven.
A re-energized LSU team entered the second half with a new physicality that pushed Kentucky to its max.
The defense improved in challenging and winning balls against the Wildcat offense. Ferguson made crucial blocks throughout the game and excelled in intercepting dangerous passes inside the 18.
Alternatively, once the ball made its way upfield, the offense would lose momentum and often play right into the feet of the Kentucky defense.
With less than 20 minutes left on the clock, forward Kelsey Major was fouled inside the 18-yard box, securing a penalty kick for LSU. Freshman Ava Amsden was chosen to take the kick after she earned her first career goal two weeks prior in a penalty kick.
Amsden then went 2-2 when her shot landed to the far left and in the back of the net. After being down for 70 minutes, LSU could completely flip the script with a fresh start and 13 minutes to go.
As the clock ran down, the Tigers matched Kentucky in shots and on the right track for a good result.
Just a few minutes after Amsden’s goal, Sydney Cheesman, a vital member of LSU’s defense, was handed her second yellow card of the match, which sent her onto the bench with a red card.
Suddenly, the Tigers found themselves down to 10 players and covering for a substantial loss to their back four.
With five minutes remaining, LSU made its final mistake and a hole in the defense left Kentucky’s Alexis Tylenda wide open for a shot on goal.
She nailed it in the goal, and the Wildcats left LSU with too much to do and too little time to do it.
The final whistle blew on the Tigers’ fourth conference loss, sending them back to Baton Rouge No. 11 in the SEC.
LSU will play the University of Texas at the LSU Soccer Stadium this Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1:00 p.m. Texas is No. 5 in the conference standings with a 3-2-1 record.
After three consecutive defeats, now more than ever, LSU is in need of a serious comeback if it wants a shot at maintaining qualification for the SEC tournament. On Sunday, it will be the team with something to prove.
