LEXINGTON, Ky. — The 24th-ranked LSU soccer team wrapped up a four-game SEC road swing by extending its unbeaten streak to three games with a 1-1 draw against the Kentucky Wildcats in a Sunday afternoon tilt at the UK Soccer Complex.
The Tigers (10-2-5, 4-1-3 SEC) also extended their unbeaten streak to three against Kentucky (7-6-3, 1-6-1 SEC) and remain unbeaten with a 2-0-2 mark against the SEC Eastern Division.
“It was a good game and one of your typical Sunday afternoon games in the SEC,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “These games are all about how hard you can run, how high you can jump and how well you can pass the ball when you’re tired. We fought really hard and certainly believe it was a fair result based on the flow of the game.
“Kentucky is a good team that just hasn’t had the results go their way in the SEC. That’s evident by the fact they tied Purdue, who is ranked No. 5 in the country, and Louisiana in the non-conference season. You have to give them a lot of credit for battling the full 110 minutes today.”
The sides played an even match as Kentucky outshot the Tigers by a 25-23 margin, while LSU held a 12-6 advantage in shots on goal. The Wildcats also held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
Kentucky took an early 1-0 lead in the 18th minute of the first half when midfielder Kate Rowlands flicked a service from defender Julie Hull into the back of the net from seven yards out for her first goal of the season at the 17:36 mark.
The Wildcats took the lead into the halftime break, but the Tigers drew level in the 60th minute when freshman midfielder Taryne Boudreau buried a header inside the left post following a brilliant 35-yard cross from sophomore midfielder Malorie Rutledge. Junior Roslyn Jones was also credited with an assist on Boudreau’s third goal of the season.
Rutledge is now the school’s single-season record holder for assists as she has recorded a total of 11 on the season, eclipsing the old mark of 10 assists set by Stephanie Keating in 2002.
The Tigers are now tied for third in the SEC standings with Auburn and Florida as each squad sits on 15 points after eight league games. LSU and Auburn are tied for the top spot in the SEC West and trail only Tennessee (19) and Georgia (17) for the overall lead following Sunday’s action.
“We need to use these next few days to rest up and get ready for the stretch run of the regular season,” Lee said. “It’s now a three-game season, and we’re excited about the position we’re in with the opportunity to compete for the SEC West and overall SEC titles.”
The Tigers return home on Thursday night to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in match scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the LSU Soccer Complex. This will be the final home game of the season as seniors Sara Pollock, Caroline Vanderpool and Valerie Vogler will be making their last appearance in the purple and gold in Baton Rouge.