The LSU soccer team will host the University of Missouri Tigers in a pivotal Southeastern Conference matchup at 7 p.m. Friday at the LSU Soccer Stadium.
LSU (7-3-3, 1-3-1 SEC) enters the game with four points in SEC play, placing 12th in league standings. To qualify for the SEC tournament this November, LSU needs to finish in at least 10th place.
After obtaining its first national ranking since 2013, LSU lost two games in a row to Auburn University and the University of Mississippi to drop out of the rankings and into last place in the SEC. The tie against Vanderbilt University sent the Tigers back in the right direction, and with six games remaining, senior midfielder Natalia Gomez-Junco said a home victory against Missouri would be a necessary boost for LSU.
“This week it’s [Missouri],” Gomez-Junco said. “We have to beat them and get back in the SEC race. It’s important to get back to our game and be positive. We’ll play with that confidence that we’ve played with all season at home.”
Confidence has LSU undefeated at the LSU Soccer Stadium this season. LSU heads into Friday night riding a nine-game unbeaten streak at home with a 6-0-3 record.
Although the Tigers couldn’t pull through for the win in their last game against the Commodores, LSU coach Brian Lee said he was pleased with his team’s defensive effort in the scoreless tie. LSU gave up one shot on goal in 110 minutes of action after conceding 11 total goals in the previous four SEC games.
“To hold anybody without a shot on goal [in 90 minutes] is not easy,” Lee said in a news release following the game. “We needed that. We have really been giving up a few too many goals, many on set pieces, and we did a great job of cleaning that up tonight.”
However, LSU is in the midst of a 217 minute goal-scoring drought.
The team failed to score in either of its last two games against Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. The last Tiger to score was sophomore forward Jorian Baucom against Auburn two weeks ago.
Missouri (5-3-4, 3-1-1) heads into Baton Rouge on a three-game SEC unbeaten streak, which includes a win over No. 8 Auburn, a feat no other SEC team has accomplished this season. The visiting Tigers are currently sitting in third place in the SEC standings.
Since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012, it has played LSU, holding a 2-1 edge. Missouri picked up its first win in the series last season when it defeated LSU, 3-1, in Columbia, Missouri.