COLUMBIA, S.C. — Freshman defender Chelsea Potts scored her first career goal in the 21st minute of play, but the LSU soccer team was unable to put the game away and fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks in double overtime by the score of 2-1 on Friday.
The Tigers fall to 8-8-2 on the season and are now 3-4-2 in SEC play, while the Gamecocks improve to 11-5-2 overall and remain in contention for the SEC Championship with a 5-2-2 mark in league play. South Carolina remains unbeaten at home with an 8-0-2 record at Stone Stadium.
“We’re a young team right now, and you just have develop a killer instinct to put teams away if you want to survive in this league,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “Chelsea scored a great first goal early, but we just didn’t push for that second goal that would have put the game away for us the way we needed to.”
Potts put the Tigers on top 1-0 by blasting a header into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box off of a brilliant cross by fellow freshman Amanda Carreno. Carreno played a corner kick short to freshman Rachel Yepez before receiving it back and crossing to a leaping Potts from just outside the penalty box.
Junior All-SEC midfielder Ashley Kirk tied the match for the Gamecocks late in regulation by curling a free kick into the back of the net from 20 yards out near the top the box in the 86th minute for her second goal of the season. Kirk added the game-winner in the 104th minute with a shot from 10 yards out following a South Carolina free kick.
The Tigers finished the match with 10 total shots, including five shots on goal, and six corner kicks, while the Gamecocks held the advantage in the box score by attempting 11 total shots with seven shots on goal and four corner kicks.
“Our two remaining games are must-wins for us at this point if we want to make it to Orange Beach in two weeks,” Lee said. “The SEC is as competitive this year as it’s ever been, and there is not much room separating No. 1 from No. 8 as teams are fighting to get into the SEC Tournament. We need to win our last two games to feel secure about our position.”
The Tigers return to action on Sunday as they welcome the 12th-ranked and SEC leading Florida Gators to Baton Rouge in a crucial match at the LSU Soccer Complex. The game is scheduled to be televised live by Cox Sports Television (Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge) beginning at noon with kickoff slated for 12:07 p.m.