Auburn Soccer hosted the LSU Tigers on Thursday at the Auburn Soccer Complex for Greek Night. Despite a strong early defense, Auburn couldn't hold on late and fell to LSU 3-1.
LSU came out strong, controlling play early, but Auburn’s defense remained strong, keeping the game level through the opening minutes. Despite LSU’s early pressure, Auburn quickly responded. By the 23-minute mark, Auburn had six shots on goal compared to LSU’s lone attempt. Senior Grace Ivey came close with the Tigers’ best chance of the half, but her effort went just wide. Auburn maintained its aggression, reaching 10 shots on goal by the 30-minute mark and keeping LSU at one.
However, Auburn's defense could not hold, and with five minutes remaining in the first half senior Sydney Cheesman scored a top-left goal, to give LSU a 1-0 lead. The goal was Cheeseman's first of the season and just the second of her four-year career.
Going into the second half, LSU started again strong with pressure, forcing a quick save from Auburn's Ayana Yapo. Just eight minutes later, the Tigers answered. Redshirt senior Erin Flurey found the top right corner of the net at the 52:08 mark, tying the match 1-1 with her eighth goal of the season. The game remained close, but a two-hour rain delay pushed the remainder of it deep into the night, resuming around 10:30 p.m.
The second LSU goal of the night was scored by junior Ava Galligan, who found space to finish in the top left of the net off assists by Ava Amsden and freshman Sariyah Bailey.
When play continued, LSU seemed to have more left in the tanks. In the 77th minute, Bailey found the bottom center of the net to secure a 3-1 win. The loss dropped Auburn to 1-1-2 in SEC play, and for LSU, marked the end of a 15-year drought in Auburn. It was LSU's first win on The Plains since 2009.
Auburn will take on No. 13 Vanderbilt next at the Vanderbilt soccer complex on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. CDT.
