BATON ROUGE — Junior Malorie Rutledge connected on a dramatic game-winning goal after running onto a slotted through ball by fellow junior Melissa Clarke just 24 seconds into overtime to give the 19th-ranked LSU soccer team a 2-1 victory over Auburn on Friday at the LSU Soccer Complex.
Fueled by a season-high attendance of 1,503 supporters, the Tigers (9-2, 3-2 SEC) extended their home unbeaten streak to 15 games and snapped Auburn’s (6-6-2, 2-2-1 SEC) six-game unbeaten streak between the sides dating back to the 2002 season.
Rutledge’s goal was the fourth of the season and third game-winner for the Hermann Trophy candidate, while Clarke notched her second assist of the night with her brilliant effort.
“We found ourselves behind again despite playing well in the first half, but we hung in there and kept fighting for the entire match,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee said. “We played a great second half and a better 24 seconds of overtime. That was just a great effort by Melissa and Malorie to connect for the game winner, and that one play shows the kind of class that those two possess on the field.”
It marked the second straight match that Rutledge scored the game-winner for the Tigers as she also fired in the winning goal in LSU’s 2-1 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs this past Sunday.
“It was very important for us to come out and get a win tonight because we haven’t played in front of our home fans in so long,” Rutledge said. “Melissa played a great ball to me, and I was able to run onto it and get a shot off. Luckily, it found the back of the net. This was a big win for our team.”
Rebecca Howell put Auburn on top with her fourth goal of the season in the 27th minute of play, finishing a cross from freshman Katy Frierson with a slow roller through the right side of the net from just outside the six-yard box. Auburn finished off the final 18 minutes of the half to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
But LSU struck back in the 64th minute as junior Amanda Carreno scored her third goal of the season on a rebound and a shot into the left side of the net from 10 yards out directly in front of the goal. Auburn goalkeeper Allison Whitworth saved the initial shot from junior Michelle Makasini, while Clarke was also credited with an assist on the equalizer.
Clarke nearly gave the Tigers the lead just minutes later, dribbling the ball into the box on the right flank and rifling a bullet the net, but Whitworth made a fantastic save diving to her right. LSU had another chance to take the lead with two minutes remaining in regulation. Clarke served in a perfect cross from the left side to junior Rachel Yepez, who was unable to finish from eight yards out.
After going into the overtime tied 1-1, the Tigers wasted no time in putting the game away when Clarke intercepted an errant pass and slotted a pass through the back line to Rutledge for the goal.
“We wanted to have the midfield press them in the back, pick the ball off and get them on a quick counter attack. It played out that way 20 seconds in,” Lee said. “It was the result of great effort by our midfield. Melissa is silky smooth once she’s on the ball, and she reads balls very well. She picked it off just like we had hoped and slid it into Malorie for a great finish.”
In just over 90 minutes of action, LSU outshot Auburn by a 16-11 margin with an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal, while both sides attempted six corner kicks on the night.
LSU returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. as it looks to extend its school record home unbeaten streak to 16 games when it welcomes the Alabama Crimson Tide to the LSU Soccer Complex. Alabama is fresh off of a dominating 3-1 road win over Arkansas on Friday night and boasts a 3-2 mark in SEC play.