NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt battled a tough No. 10 LSU squad into overtime, but lost 2-1 on a breezy Sunday afternoon at the VU Soccer Complex.
The Commodores dropped their second game of the weekend. VU is now 7-6-1 overall and 1-5 in Southeastern Conference action, while the Tigers improved to 9-3-2 and 5-1 in league play.
The game was tied 1-1 until LSU’s Malorie Rutledge scored at the 99:32 mark in the first overtime off a corner from Courtney Alexander.
“I’m really proud of the effort our girls gave today. We battled and gave them a good run for their money,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Woodard. “We need to pay attention to smaller details in the flow of the game. I think we can leave this field still feeling good about ourselves.”
Vanderbilt got on the board first, when Nicole Lukens scored from four yards into the bottom left corner of the net off an assist from Megan Forester at the 20:29 mark of the first half.
LSU’s offense pressured Vanderbilt consistently in the first half, but the Commodores’ defense kept the Tigers from shooting on goal until the 42:35 mark. That was the Tigers’ only shot on goal for the half.
The Tigers led with six shots on the half. Vanderbilt had five shots on the half with three on goal.
Vanderbilt wasted no time setting the tone on offense in the second half with two shots on goal within the first five minutes.
LSU evened the game when Malorie Rutledge scored off a header into the top left corner of the net off an assist from Courtney Alexander at the 50:38 mark.
Defense reigned supreme in the second half, forcing the game into overtime. LSU had 11 shots total in the second half and Vanderbilt followed with six.
Molly Kinsella led VU with six shots, three on goal, while Malorie Rutledge and Courtney Alexander capped off the scoring for LSU with two goals and two assists, respectively.
The Commodores will head to the state of Alabama next weekend to take on Auburn and Alabama. VU will face the Tigers on Friday at 7:30 p.m., before taking on the Crimson Tide on Sunday at 1 p.m.
“We need to regroup and refocus our energies. We need to let the disappointment of how hard we fought settle in and then learn from it and let go,” summed up Woodard.
