BATON ROUGE – The LSU Tigers will look to get back in the win column and snap a four-game losing skid in Southeastern Conference play on Friday night when they welcome the red-hot Kentucky Wildcats to Baton Rouge for a match that is scheduled to kick off at 7:05 p.m. CDT at the LSU Soccer Stadium. The match will be featured on the SEC Network+.
Fans can “Geaux Free!” to each of LSU’s three remaining home matches during the 2014 regular season as admission is free at the LSU Soccer Stadium, compliments of The Advocate.
Fans can watch the Tigers in action on the SEC Network+ on Friday night by accessing the live streaming video online at http://espn3.com/ or by using the WatchESPN app available on all smartphones and tablets. LSU’s remaining six home matches will all feature on either the SEC Network or SEC Network+ through the end of the regular season.
Fans who are unable to attend the match are invited to follow the action through social media as they can receive live updates from the ground by following @LSUSoccer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lsusoccer and by liking LSU Soccer’s official Facebook page at http://facebook.com/lsusoccer. They are also invited to join in the team’s live in-game chat on Facebook during each match during the 2014 season.
A crucial three points on the SEC table will be on the line Friday night as the Tigers are fighting for postseason positioning this weekend as they are set to open up a three-game homestand to end the regular season.
They are looking to get back in the win column for the first time since Oct. 3 when they went on the road to defeat the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville by a score of 2-0 for their first league win of the season. The Tigers (5-10-2, 1-6-1 SEC) are also hoping to snap a two-game slide in their series with the Wildcats (10-5, 5-3) as Kentucky has recently earned a 2-1 win in Baton Rouge in 2012 and a 3-1 win in Lexington in 2013.
LSU has enjoyed its share of recent success against its former SEC East rival while posting a winning 4-3-2 mark in nine previous meetings under the direction of head coach Brian Lee since his arrival in Baton Rouge back in 2005. The Tigers were winless at 0-8 against the Wildcats prior to Lee’s appointment as head coach.
Kentucky has positioned itself for an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament this season with its recent run of form as it makes the trip to Baton Rouge riding a three-game winning streak in SEC play.
The Wildcats defended their home turf with consecutive shutout victories over South Carolina, Ole Miss and No. 4-ranked Florida over the past two weeks to climb into a tie for fourth place on the SEC table with a total of 15 points with their 5-3 league mark. After defeating the Gamecocks by a 1-0 margin back on Friday, Oct. 10, the Wildcats scored a 3-0 win over the Rebels and a 2-0 shutout of the Gators last weekend.
That recent run of form as seen Kentucky climb all the way to No. 30 nationally in the NCAA’s Ratings Percentage Index updated on Monday to position itself for an at-large berth into this year’s NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats feature the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week in the form of sophomore striker Zoe Swift, after scoring both game-winning goals in victories over Ole Miss and Florida last weekend to had the side six crucial points in the SEC standings. Swift has scored four goals on the season with her tally last weekend to help move Kentucky into a tie for fourth on the SEC table.
The visitors are also led by senior All-SEC performer Arin Gilliland, junior midfielder Courtney Raetzman and rookie striker Jade Klump as they have each scored a team-leading six goals this season. Gilliland is one of the most decorated players in SEC soccer as a three-time All-SEC performer during her collegiate career, including a back-to-back First-Team All-SEC selection in each of the last two seasons.
Friday’s match will feature Mike’s Kid’s Club Night at the LSU Soccer Stadium as members will be invited to participate as part of the halftime entertainment with a scrimmage or goals against Mike The Tiger. It will even be Soccer Mom Appreciation Night as fans are encouraged to bring their moms to the match and a meal special will be available for all moms at the concession stand.
After opening their three-game homestand by playing host to the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night, the Tigers will welcome the No. 8-ranked Florida Gators to Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon for a match that is set to kick off at 1:05 p.m. CT. Each of LSU’s final three home matches to wrap up the regular season will feature on the SEC Network+ at http://www.ESPN3.com and the Watch ESPN app.