Orange Beach, Ala. – The No. 7-seeded LSU soccer team is set for a showdown with No. 4-seeded Arkansas for the SEC Tournament title on Sunday afternoon. The match will begin at 1 p.m. CT and be televised on the SEC Network.
LSU (13-6-2) will be making its second all-time appearance in the SEC Tournament title match with the lone other berth in the finals coming in 2009. Arkansas (13-4-3) is back in the SEC title game for the third-straight year and fifth time in its history. Both squads will be attempting to win their first ever SEC Tournament championship on Sunday.
The Tigers are playing some of the best soccer in America as of late having won seven of their last 10 for a 7-2-1 record that includes two top 25 wins. LSU will lace up the cleats for the fourth time in the last eight days on Sunday as they attempt to become the first team in SEC Tournament history to win the tournament title after playing in the opening round since this format was instituted in 2012.
The Basics | Game Notes
LSU vs. Arkansas | 1 p.m. CT | Sunday | SEC Network
Live Stats | Live Stream | Live Updates | Season Stats
Scouting Arkansas
2018 Record: 13-4-3
Leading Scorers
Kayla McKeon – 21 points (8g & 5a)
Tori Cannata – 18 points (8g & 2a)
Goalkeeper
Taylor Beitz – 0.87 GAA, 48 saves, .828 save percentage
LSU at the SEC Tournament | Tournament Bracket
After Friday’s win against No. 17 South Carolina, LSU owns an all-time record of 9-10-5 in the league tournament. Eight of LSU’s nine all-time wins at the SEC Tournament have come under the helm of Brian Lee.
Series History
Interestingly enough, LSU and Arkansas have never met before in the SEC Tournament. Arkansas prevailed earlier this season on Oct. 4 with a 2-1 win in double overtime. Tori Cannata scored both goals in that match, and LSU’s lone goal came from senior Alex Thomas on a penalty kick in the 43rd minute of play. LSU owns the all-time series advantage having won 14 of the 24 matches between the two programs. Arkansas has won eight and there have also been two draws.
Four LSU soccer players were honored with All-Southeastern Conference accolades on Sunday. Sophomore defender Lucy Parker was named to the All-SEC First Team, Alex Thomas and Adrienne Richardson earned All-SEC Second Team honors, and Abbey Newton was named to the All-Freshman Team.
How LSU Made It Here
Alex Thomas‘ first-career hat trick led LSU to a 3-2 double overtime victory over 10th-seeded Missouri on Sunday. It was the first hat trick by an LSU player at the SEC Tournament. On Tuesday against second-seeded and No. 12 Tennessee, the Tigers battled to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of play. Shannon Cooke scored the first goal of her LSU career against the Vols and it was assisted by Adrienne Richardson and Marlena Cutura. After the 110 minutes of play, the match was decided by penalties. LSU grinded out a 7-6 victory in that shootout with two big saves from Caroline Brockmeier and Meghan Johnson nailed home the game winner in the ninth round. Friday’s match was a well-played contest by the Tigers that ended with a 1-0 result in favor of the Purple and Gold over sixth seeded and No. 17 South Carolina. LSU’s only goal of the game courtesy of an own goal that was knocked in by the South Carolina keeper.