After facing late-action adversity against Kentucky, LSU soccer is 4-2-3 in the SEC and looking forward to its regular season finale vs. the Florida Gators.
On Sunday, it was clear that the Tigers were the better team heading into halftime; however, they couldn’t hold their lead for the next 45 minutes and ended in a draw with the Wildcats.
Still tied at 15 points for seventh in the standings, a win over the Gators this weekend could determine LSU’s first-round matchup in the SEC tournament.
One of the biggest takeaways from Sunday was needing to be more intentional in finishing the game. The Tigers failed to maintain their defense through the final minutes of the matchup, leading for less than two minutes against the Wildcats.
“We just have to be a little bit more focused and disciplined in that moment and keep the game, you know, see the game out,” head coach Sian Hudson said. “That clean sheet mentality that we had earlier in the season — got to get back to that before we go into postseason play.”
This Sunday’s matchup will test the Tigers’ stamina as the Gators will be on the hunt for a meaningful win. Currently holding the 11th seed, Florida will want the three points of insurance to stay out of a tie with Auburn in the standings.
However, LSU’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Kentucky hasn’t seemed to crack the team’s confidence as it prepares to host the regular season finale.
“These past six games, we haven’t lost a single one, and I don’t think that a loss is in our heads right now — just to go to the beach,” freshman forward Sariyah Bailey said.
When comparing the two teams statistically, each side balances out. The Tigers have more shots and goals on the season, but the Gators have more accuracy on goal.
Defensively, Florida stacks up relatively even with the strong Tiger backline we’ve seen all season.
Sunday will be both a physical and mental battle. Consistency and composure will be the key ingredients to a home team win as long as LSU continues to play in the flow state it has found over the past four weeks.
“We’ve secured our spot in the previous game, but still have to win out our last games,” senior forward Ida Hermannsdottir said.
LSU is also entering its final conference game in good form with a healthy lineup and no injuries reported. Having a complete roster at this stage of the season will be advantageous for the Tigers, especially as they continue to build upon momentum, chemistry and mentality.
“I think the confidence is at an all-time high,” Hudson said. “The mindset right now is disappointment, but maybe this is a little reminder of closing out games. Florida is going to be a battle for us next Sunday, just like Kentucky was today, but there are no easy games in the SEC.”
The team’s depth and overall fitness could prove crucial in the coming weeks, providing LSU with the flexibility needed to compete at a high level both on Sunday afternoon and in postseason play.
