BATON ROUGE — The 15th-ranked LSU soccer team will battle the 21st-ranked Ole Miss Rebels for Southeastern Conference Western Division supremacy on Friday night when the sides go head-to-head in a crucial SEC showdown at the LSU Soccer Complex with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT.
The Tigers (9-3-2, 5-1-0 SEC) are currently ranked as high as No. 15 in the latest Soccer Times Top 25 as they sit in sole possession of second place in the overall SEC standings with 15 points in conference play.
The Rebels (9-3-1, 3-1-1 SEC) have earned their highest national ranking in team history at No. 21 in the Soccer America Top 25 on the strength of their current three-game SEC unbeaten streak that includes two wins over nationally-ranked opponents. They defeated No. 7 Florida, 3-2, in Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 4 and No. 16 Georgia, 1-0, in Athens, Ga., on Oct. 9.
The series has been one of the most competitive in the SEC in recent years with the Rebels holding a slim 2-1-2 edge in five meetings since Brian Lee was named LSU’s head coach prior to the 2005 season.
The Tigers and Rebels split a pair of matches a year ago with Ole Miss earning a 1-0 shutout in Oxford on Sept. 28 during the regular season and LSU earning a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., on Nov. 5 of last season.
“This is a series that has probably been the most competitive in the SEC in recent years, and I’m sure that tomorrow’s match will be no different,” Lee said. “Tomorrow’s match will be important for both teams in terms of NCAA Tournament position and the ability to compete for a conference championship in the last few weeks of the regular season. We’re looking forward to a great match.”
Senior defender Danielle Johnson scored both of Ole Miss’ goals a week ago in a 1-0 win against No. 16 Georgia in Athens on Oct. 9 and a 1-1 draw with Tennessee in Knoxville on Sunday.
For her performance in two road matches, Johnson was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and a member of the Soccer America Women’s National Team of the Week on Monday. Johnson is the star of the Ole Miss squad as she has earned three All-SEC honors during her brilliant career, including two first-team selections as a sophomore and junior in 2007 and 2008.
Junior forward Taylor Cunningham leads the Rebel attack this season with six goals and 15 points, while senior forward Hannah Weatherly and sophomore forward Kelsey Breathitt are tied for third on the squad with five goals and two assists apiece for a total of 12 points.
In fact, 14 different players have scored goals for Ole Miss this season to tie South Carolina for the league lead in total number of goal scorers on the roster.
“Ole Miss is very good in the attack. Their front line has been as good as any in the SEC this season,” Lee said. “Our backs will face a great challenge in containing their forwards for the full 90 minutes. How well we communicate in the back will be a key if we are able to come away with a result. Our girls know we’ll have to compete from the opening kick to the final whistle to get the result we want.”
Friday’s match will be Louisiana Girl Scouts of America Night and Thibodeaux Soccer Association Night at the LSU Soccer Complex. Members of the Louisiana Girl Scouts of America receive free admission and the first 200 to enter the gate wearing a troop vest will receive a free Coke float.
Not only that, but an autograph session with the Tigers will take place on the field immediately following the end of the match and all fans in attendance are invited to participate.
Fans who are unable to attend Friday’s match can listen to a live radio broadcast by logging on to the site www.totalsportsradio.com as Jason Kelly will once again provide the play-by-play.
After battling the Rebels on Friday night, the Tigers will welcome the Mississippi State Bulldogs to Baton Rouge on Sunday for a 1:06 p.m. CT kickoff. Sunday’s match is scheduled for a live television broadcast by Comcast Sports Southeast and will be available in the Baton Rouge area on Cox Sports Television.