BATON ROUGE – The LSU Tigers will look to snap their two-game losing skid in Southeastern Conference play and get back in the win column on their home field on Friday night as they put their eight-game unbeaten streak at the LSU Soccer Stadium on the line against Vanderbilt with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.
The Tigers (7-3-2, 1-3 SEC) are unbeaten at 6-0-2 in their eight home matches this season and own a two-game winning streak against the Commodores (5-5-2, 1-2-1) in the series dating back to 2012.
LSU makes its return to the SEC Network+ as fans can watch the Tigers in action by accessing the online digital platform at ESPN3.com and using the WatchESPN app available on all smartphones and tablet devices. Live stats from the match will also be available for the public through StatBroadcast at http://lsustats.com.
Fans not able to watch the game can also follow the action through social media as they can receive live updates of the Tigers and Commodores by following @LSUSoccer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lsusoccer and Instagram at http://instagram.com/lsusoccer and by liking the LSU Soccer page on Facebook at http://facebook.com/lsusoccer.
Fans are reminded they can “Geaux Free!” to each of LSU’s four remaining home matches in the 2015 regular season as admission is free at the LSU Soccer Stadium again this season, compliments of The Advocate.
The Tigers are hoping to snap their two-game slide in SEC play after following a 3-2 double overtime defeat at No. 13-ranked Auburn last Friday night with a 2-0 shutout at Ole Miss on Sunday night as their game against the Rebels marked the first time this season they failed to find the scoresheet. Vanderbilt enters Friday’s match after playing to a 1-1 draw with Tennessee on their home field in Nashville on Sunday afternoon.
While the Commodores own a slight 9-7-2 advantage in the all-time series, the Tigers have won each of the last two meetings in extra time as they followed a 1-0 double overtime win in Baton Rouge on Oct. 7, 2012, by taking home a 2-1 extra time win in Nashville in the last match between the two sides on Sept. 21, 2013. LSU and Vanderbilt did not face one another a season ago.
The Tigers own an impressive 6-3-1 mark against Vanderbilt in their 10 previous meetings under the direction of 11th-year head coach Brian Lee, including a 2-1-1 edge in four matches played in Baton Rouge.
Leading the way for the Tigers is the NCAA’s No. 2-ranked scoring tandem this season in junior Summer Clarke and sophomore Jorian Baucom as they have accounted for 18 of the squad’s 27 goals on the year. Baucom is tied as the No. 2 goal scorer in the SEC and NCAA rankings with a career-high 11 goals in 12 appearances, while Clarke has already matched her output of seven goals from a year ago.
The Commodores are led in the attack by junior striker Simone Charley and sophomore midfielder Lydia Simmons as both have tallied nine points with their performance in 2015. Simmons is Vanderbilt’s top goal scorer with four goals and one assist on the year, while Charley follows with three goals and a team-leading three assists on the campaign.
Friday’s match with Vanderbilt marks LSU’s only match day this weekend as they will return to action next Friday, Oct. 9, when they play host to the Missouri Tigers with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. It is a split weekend for the Tigers as they will then follow with a trip to Gainesville, Florida, to face the Florida Gators on Sunday, Oct. 11, with kickoff set for Noon CT on the SEC Network+.