BATON ROUGE — The LSU Soccer team was defeated by Alabama in a close game Friday night at the LSU Soccer Complex, 2-1.
“The better team won the game tonight,” said LSU co-head coach Danielle Fotopoulos. “Alabama came out and battled with us hard. They did a great job of putting away chances.”
With the loss, LSU (6-8-1, 1-5-1 SEC) is now 1-8-1 all-time against Alabama (7-8-0, 3-4-0 SEC). The Tigers out shot Alabama 21-12 and also had nine shots on goal to four for the Crimson Tide. Senior Artie Brown and sophomore Stacy Bishop would both lead the Tigers in shots with six.
The first half would go scoreless as both teams would make runs, but be unable to put anything in the net. LSU goalkeeper Valerie Vogler made an outstanding save on a shot by an Alabama attack to hold the Crimson Tide scoreless in the first half.
In the second half the intensity would pick up, as the Crimson Tide would score first in the 57th minute. Jordan O’Banion would knock in the rebound from the Libby Probst shot that hit the crossbar and bounced right to her.
The Tigers wouldn’t waste any time though tying the game in the 62nd minute on a Caroline Vanderpool shot from 18 yards out. The goal was the first goal of the season for the freshman from Canada.
Alabama would come right back scoring in the 63rd minute when Rebecca Baker took the pass from Libby Probst and scored from 20 yards out.
“There was a lot of desire in both teams in that ten minute span,” said Fotopoulos. “We got a little distracted and didn’t stay disciplined enough. We scored and they came back and just put one in right away. Credit to Alabama, Don Staley and to their program.”
Late in the second half Artie Brown put together a couple runs at the Crimson Tide, but the Alabama keeper Laura Lowman made a couple of good saves to keep LSU from getting the equalizer.
The attendance of 857 was the fourth largest crowd in the history of the LSU Soccer Complex and the second largest this season. The largest crowd this season was 877 against Vanderbilt on Sept. 26.
The Tigers will be back in action Sunday, as they will take on No. 19 Auburn at home on Cox Sports Television at 2 p.m. CST at the LSU Soccer Complex.
Alabama (7-8-0, 3-4-0 SEC) defeated LSU (6-8-1, 1-5-1 SEC), 2-1
UA 0 2-2
LSU 0 1-1
Scoring: Alabama, O’Banion (8) (assist Probst) 56:34, Baker (2) (assist Probst) 62:18 LSU, Vanderpool (1) (unassisted) 61:54
Yellow Cards: LSU, Julie Neumann (1) 29:50 Attendance: 857