NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Senior All-American and Hermann Trophy candidate Malorie Rutledge provided the heroics by scoring the game-winning goal with just 28 seconds remaining in the first overtime period to lead 10th-ranked LSU to a thrilling 2-1 win over Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon.
After winning a corner kick in the final minute of the first overtime, junior Courtney Alexander served in a perfect right-footed cross from the left corner flag to Rutledge patrolling the back post. Rutledge put her left foot on the cross with a shot into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box.
With the win, the Tigers (9-3-2, 5-1-0 SEC) find themselves alone in second place on the SEC table with 15 points in league play, while Vanderbilt (7-6-1, 1-5-0 SEC) drops its third-straight league match.
LSU also improves its unbeaten streak to four games over the Commodores as the club has not suffered a defeat in the series since a 2-0 loss in Nashville during the 2005 season.
“Vanderbilt deserves a lot of credit. They played great today,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “I thought there was a great effort from both teams. We had our first really flat performance in the first half in a SEC game, but we put our nose to the grind in the second half and overtime to get a result. Like we always say, it’s very difficult to go on the road in the SEC and get three points. We’re pleased with the result today.”
Despite facing a 1-0 deficit at the halftime break, the Tigers came out firing in the second half as Rutledge scored her first goal of the afternoon just over five minutes into the second period.
And again it was Alexander providing the opportunity with a brilliant cross from near the left corner flag to Rutledge standing alone at the top of the six-yard box. The ball floated over the outstretched hands of a leaping Vanderbilt goalkeeper to Rutledge, who fired a header shot into the net for the equalizer. She has now taken over the team lead with eight goals on the season.
“Courtney Alexander really stepped up big for us today with two beautiful crosses, and Malorie continues to play like an All-American should,” Lee said. “She scored two tremendous goals for us when we needed them the most. You can’t say enough about those two and the effort they showed today.”
Junior striker Nicole Lukens put the Commodores on top in the 21st minute of play with her team-leading seventh goal of the campaign on a shot from point-blank range just outside the six-yard box.
After dribbling past LSU defender Nikki Bush near the left end line, midfielder Megan Forester laid off a perfect centering pass to Lukens standing alone at the top of the six-yard box. Lukens then rifled a one-timer into the back of the net to give Vanderbilt a 1-0 lead at the 20:29 mark of the first half. Lukens’ goal was just the third goal allowed by the Tigers in SEC play this season.
The Tigers outshot the Commodores in the match by a 20-14 count, including a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. LSU also attempted six corner kicks on the afternoon with Vanderbilt attempting five of its own.
The Tigers return home next weekend for a pair of matches against SEC Western Division rivals as they play host to Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m. CT and Mississippi State on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at the LSU Soccer Complex. The Mississippi State game is slated for a live television broadcast on Comcast Sports South.