Kentucky, LSU Trade Late Goals, Draw 1-1
BATON ROUGE, La. – After playing nearly 86 minutes of scoreless soccer, Kentucky (10-4-3, 4-2-3 SEC) and (rv) LSU (9-5-3, 4-2-3 SEC) each scored in a 23 second span to wrap up the penultimate match of the regular season in a 1-1 draw. The Tigers scored via a penalty kick in the 86th minute but Thalia Morisi’s second goal in as many contests came just 23 seconds late to equalize the match.
With the result, Kentucky has played three consecutive road matches to 1-1 draws, picking up points at Florida, Ole Miss, and LSU this month.
LSU controlled the run of play in the early stages of the match, finding the first three shots of the match with all missing high. Kentucky saw its best opportunities of the opening half in the 35th minute, when Sydni Fink fired a shot on target and Mimi Dominguez forced a late clearance inside the six-yard box.
Into the second half, the Cats began to pick up steam on the offensive end, with Grace Hoytink firing two shots on goal from free kicks in the 54th minute. Both sides would trade attempts for much of the second half, but neither team was able to matriculate anything until the 86th minute.
LSU played a cross into the box from the right wing and drew a penalty kick with 4:06 remaining via a Grace Hoytink foul. Ida Hermannsdottir stepped to the spot and fired a shot into the bottom left corner of goal, just past the outstretched arms of Kentucky keeper Megan Holland.
The Wildcats responded right away, taking the restart and earning a throw-in that found the feet of Sydni Fink. Fink received the ball on the right wing and dribbled to the corner flag to deliver a cross into the box. Morisi settled the ball in the center of the frame, played a touch to herself, and delivered a powerful, left-footed strike into the top of the net to tie the match.
On the equalizing play, Fink picked up her first career assist and Morisi tallied her fifth goal of the season, a new career best. For the second time this season, Morisi has scored in back-to-back matches after netting one of Kentucky’s three goals in an upset of No.8 South Carolina on Thursday.
LSU would find one last look at frame, with Holland earning her fourth save of the afternoon in the 89th minute—a new career high.
The Wildcats will close the regular season on the road next Sunday, traveling to the Lone Star State to face Texas A&M on Sunday, October 26. The decision day clash from Ellis Field in College Station will kick off at 5 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.
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