LEXINGTON, Ky. — The LSU soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to six games with a 1-1 tie in its Southeastern Conference opener against Kentucky on Friday at the UK Soccer Complex.
The Tigers push their record to 4-2-2 on the season and 0-0-1 in SEC play, while the Wildcats are 4-0-5 and 0-0-1 in the SEC. LSU is now 0-8-1 all-time against Kentucky.
“It was a great start to the SEC season,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “We got great effort from everybody and everybody contributed and played to their role. Our program has never even tied Kentucky, so it was a good match for us overall in such a tough road environment.”
Senior forward Kate Ripple scored the first goal of the match unassisted in the 11th minute of the second half by lobbing a chip shot just over the goalkeeper’s head from 25 yards to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Ripple leads the team with five goals and 10 points this season and has scored a goal in each of the last four matches.
The Wildcats tied the match at the 78:43 mark of the second half when forward Courtney McCrudden took a pass from forward Callie Lanphier and ripped a shot past the outstretched arms of freshman goalkeeper Jackie Moseley who came out to contest the shot.
Moseley rebounded to hold Kentucky scoreless for the remainder of the match and finished with three saves to push her record to 4-1-2 on the season.
“Jackie Moseley was great. She is a top-class goalkeeper, and she’s proven it everyday,” Lee said. “She’s really starting to play well in games. That’s just who she is. She’s a very good goalkeeper.”
The match remained scoreless at the half with each team unable to take advantage of limited opportunities. The Tigers attempted just one shot in the first half to four for the Wildcats, while each team attempted one corner kick in what proved to be a defensive struggle.
“Defensively we were organized for 90 minutes and really challenged Kentucky with the opportunities they had,” Lee said. “We were solid defensively across the board — in our backs, midfield and up front. We stayed committed throughout the match, and I’m pleased with their effort.”
Kentucky outshot the Tigers in the match, 16-5, and recorded four shots on goal to just two for LSU. The Wildcats also held the edge in corner kicks by attempting 13 to three for the Tigers.
The Tigers return to action Sunday at noon against the 20th- ranked Vanderbilt Commodores at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex in Nashville, Tenn. LSU will return to Baton Rouge next weekend for home matches against Ole Miss on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. and Mississippi State on Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.