BATON ROUGE, La. – Reserve forward Haley Emerson scored a golden goal in the 108th minute to send her LSU Tigers past the Vanderbilt women’s soccer, 1-0, Sunday in Southeastern Conference action.
Emerson did not play in the game’s first 100 minutes before starting the second overtime period for LSU. Her game-winner came on a counter-attack. Midfielder Jade Kovacevic served a ball from 30 years out that took a deflection near the penalty spot and landed at Emerson’s feet. Vanderbilt goalkeeper Alexa Levick attempted to close Emerson out, but the substitute’s shot got past her and into the side netting to end the contest.
“This is certainly a disappointing effort for our team today,” Greene said. “We had a chance to gain another point on the road and we just didn’t close the game out. It felt like we were a step off today with our effort, and when you don’t play with heart in this league, you don’t win games.
Levick did make five saves in the game, including two spectacular back-to-back stops in the first half. In the 36th minute, an Alex Ramsey effort looked destined for the upper 90 before Levick tipped it over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick, Heather Magee’s header also was turned away by the Vanderbilt keeper.
Vanderbilt’s fourth consecutive overtime contest–the Commodores’ eighth time to end regulation tied this season–looked like a typical Sunday game, with neither team looking particularly fluid. LSU held a 16-8 advantage in shots during regulation, but only a 4-3 edge in extra time. The teams combined to put only three shots on frame the entire game. Three Commodores registered two shots apiece–senior Dana Schwartz, junior Kendra Hendrix and freshman Jamie Kator.
Sunday’s game marked Vanderbilt’s sixth SEC road contest, while the Tigers were at home for the sixth time this year. Vanderbilt will return home next weekend to open a four-game home stand. The Commodores’ third SEC home game of the year comes Friday when Ole Miss visits the VU Soccer Complex. The 7 p.m. CT game will be Vanderbilt’s “Pink Out” game, entitled “Taking a KICK at Breast Cancer Night.” All fans who wear pink to that game will receive free admission.
