ATHENS, Ga. — The LSU soccer team’s remarkable season came to an end Thursday afternoon, as the Tigers were bounced by Kentucky, 2-0, in the opening round of the SEC Tournament in Athens, Ga.
With the loss the Tigers finished the season 15-6 overall, a school single season record for wins and more wins than the combined total of the last three seasons.
“We came here a little inexperienced but I don’t think we were intimidated in any way,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “We weren’t particularly crisp today. My hat is off to Kentucky, they are a terrific club and they are very well coached.”
Kentucky (15-5) controlled the tempo of the match from beginning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of late first half goals.
LSU defender Elizabeth Marschall was whistled for shoving a Kentucky player in the penalty box with just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half, giving the Wildcats a penalty kick. Forward Elizabeth Ramsey calmly converted the kick, giving Kentucky a 1-0 lead.
“The penalty kick was definitely the turning point of the match,” said Fotopoulos. “Kentucky had controlled the match to that point, but we had also neutralized their attack to that point. It wasn’t the deciding factor, but it was very important.”
The Wildcats then struck again less than five minutes later, as Jaime Dellbringge beat LSU keeper Bonnie Otillio from six yards out to move the lead to 2-0 at the half.
Otillio kept the Tigers in the match in the early stages with a number of critical saves, as she was under pressure a majority of the first half. Otillio finished with four saves as LSU was outshot 11-3 on the afternoon.
The tempo of the match slowed down significantly in the second half, but LSU did have several opportunities to get back into the match. Somalia Lindsay nearly cut the Wildcat lead in half in the 72nd minute, but was unable to beat Kentucky keeper Beth Wells from in close. Wells stopped two shots for the shutout.
LSU dropped to 0-3 all-time in SEC Tournament play with two of the losses coming at the hands of Kentucky.
“Everybody who started for us today will be back next year,” said Fotopoulos. “I think we came here content to be in the SEC Tournament. We can’t take that approach, we have to come here expecting to win. Hopefully, this experience will teach us that and we will be better for it in the future.”