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Soccer Set to Host SEC Home Opener against Ole Miss

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
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Soccer Set to Host SEC Home Opener against Ole Miss

BATON ROUGE — The LSU soccer team will look to get back on the winning track as the Tigers play host to Ole Miss in their home conference opener on Friday night at the LSU Soccer Complex.

“This is a big game for our team because we obviously need a win and it is out first conference match at home against a very good Ole Miss team,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “We are facing one of our rivals and this, as all SEC matches are, will be a tough one.”

The Tigers (7-3-1, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) will be facing the Rebels (10-2, 1-1 SEC) for the first time since a 2-1 LSU victory on Oct. 4, 2002 in Oxford, Miss. The Tigers hold a 4-3 advantage all-time against Ole Miss, including a 3-1 mark versus the Rebels in Baton Rouge.

LSU is coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Vanderbilt on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn., while Ole Miss edged Tennessee 1-0 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Rebels began the season 7-0 but have gone 3-2 since then which includes two heartbreaking losses, a 2-1 loss in overtime to Florida State and a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Georgia in Ole Miss’ SEC opener on Oct. 3 in Athens, Ga. The Tigers dropped a 2-0 decision to Kentucky in Lexington on Oct. 3.

Ole Miss and LSU enter Friday’s contest ranked first and second in the league in three different offensive categories. The two teams are ranked No. 1 and 2 in shots, goals, and goals per game average. Ole Miss is also first in points while the Tigers rank third. The Rebels also rank first in the SEC in the least amount of goals allowed with just six. The Tigers have allowed only 10 this season.

Freshman forward Stacy Bishop is the Tigers’ leading goal scorer entering Friday’s match with 10. The Land O’Lakes, Fla., native is second in the SEC in goals and points. Junior forward Artie Brown is second on the squad with nine goals scored and is already third all-time in school history in that category. The Baton Rouge native has recorded 22 goals in her career.

Friday’s match is being called “Totally ’80s night by the LSU Marketing and Promotions Department, which will feature a pre-game tailgate party on the practice fields in conjunction with KLSU, the Reveille, and the GUMBO.

The Tigers will face Mississippi State on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the LSU Soccer Complex to wrap up their initial conference weekend at home.