LSU eliminated on penalties again

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By Stephanie Kraft

The LSU soccer team was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the LSU Soccer Complex last Sunday in a game filled with numerous parallels to their loss in the SEC tournament final a week before. The Tigers defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7-0 last Friday to advance to the second round.

From the starting whistle, much of the game seemed an unwelcome replay of the SEC final versus South Carolina. LSU was once again offensively flat against the Texas A&M Aggies throughout the first half. Even though the Aggies only led in the shot count by one (6-5) going into the break, LSU was unable to sustain any degree of offensive pressure or possession during the first 45 minutes of play.

Conversely, A&M launched immediate counterattacks with blazing speed from their defensive third and controlled the midfield to apply near constant offensive pressure to LSU's backline.

Less than a minute into the second half offensive pressure by A&M resulted in a shot by sophomore Katie Hamilton from 22 yards out that went high.

Aggie freshman Kim Castleberry came into the game midway through the period and on her first touch dribbled the ball up the field unchallenged resulting in an A&M corner kick. A&M junior Rachel Shipley served the ball far post where senior Emily Peterson drilled a header into the back of the net. The goal was only the second of the defender Peterson's college career.

The A&M lead was short-lived as two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year Malorie Rutledge drew a penalty inside the box less than two minutes later. Senior Melissa Clarke converted the penalty kick against substitute goalkeeper Kristin Arnold to level the score at 1-1.

"The quick response is something that we work a lot on," Lee said. "Whether we score a goal or they score a goal, we always try and push those next couple of minutes. Malorie Rutledge has drawn three or four penalties this year running the back line so it's not surprising it happened. We were just hoping to get the second one behind it."

The Aggies nearly regained the lead with 18 minutes remaining in regulation. Castleberry worked the ball on the left side of the penalty area and found Alyssa Mautz unmarked eight yards from the center of the goal. Mautz's low strike to the near post was saved by a diving LSU goalkeeper Mo Isom.

The last of LSU's few offensive opportunities in the second half was thwarted as Arnold caught Allysha Chapman's shot off an LSU corner kick. A&M remained consistent and dangerous in the final five minutes of regulation, keeping the ball in its attacking third the entire time and earning two corner kicks that Isom saved.

For the second-time in seven days the Tigers found themselves in a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. LSU approached the two 10 minute golden-goal overtime periods in much the way they had in the SEC finals against South Carolina, appearing to be simply trying to hold on to the tie in favor of a penalty kick decision.

The Aggies continued to apply offensive pressure through both overtime periods taking five shots to LSU's lone attempt off a Clarke counterattack.

The penalty kick shootout was also markedly similar to the shootout versus the Gamecocks a week earlier. A&M Freshman Mary Grace Schmidt was the first player to attempt a PK and she connected. Once again LSU found themselves behind the eight ball when the team's first kick, taken by Rutledge, was saved by A&M junior goalkeeper Kelly Dyer.

Each side converted its next two kicks, Peterson netted her penalty kick to bring the score to 4-2 in favor of Texas A&M. Needing a goal to avoid elimination, senior Melissa Clarke's second PK of the day hit the crossbar and Texas A&M advanced to the Sweet 16 next weekend to face No. 1 national seed Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla.

While the match proved to be a disappointing end to the 10th-ranked LSU soccer team's season, it should not diminish the accomplishments of the team. LSU (15-4-5) tied a school single-season record for wins. Friday's win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff marked the 50th win in the careers of LSU's senior class, a fitting milestone for a class that has transformed the LSU program into a championship contender during its four seasons in Baton Rouge.

"We are very happy for our senior class that they were able to come here and change the program and get us to this point," said LSU head coach Brian Lee. "We are extremely excited about the future with some of the kids already in the program and ones that are coming in. We will be here again and I think we will break through and do more in the NCAA Tournament in the coming years. I think the seniors deserve a lot of credit for getting us to this point."

Originally Published: Issue 824 - November 18, 2009

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