by Will Stafford, Associate Sports Information Director
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- The 13th-ranked and No. 2-seeded LSU soccer team was denied its first ever SEC Tournament Championship on Sunday as it dropped a heartbreaking 8-7 decision in a penalty kick shootout to No. 4-seeded South Carolina in the championship match at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw as both sides were unable to end the deadlock in two 10-minute overtime periods. It marked the first appearance for both clubs in the SEC Tournament final.
The Tigers (14-4-4) are in position to receive their third-straight at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament as the 64-team field will be announced Monday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPNews.
“South Carolina really deserved to win the game. They played very well and fought extremely hard to get that result,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “You have to congratulate their team for the effort that they showed all game long. Penalty kicks are a tough way to decide a game and we didn’t perform to the level that we expect. We have to get back to work this week and get ready for the NCAA Tournament.”
“We are looking forward to the NCAA Tournament selection show tomorrow. We feel like we have done enough this season to be in contention for a national seed. It’s exciting to be in this position.”
Senior All-SEC performer Melissa Clarke scored the only goal of the match for LSU on a penalty kick in the 24th minute of the first half for her team-leading 11th goal of the season.
After winning a corner kick, senior All-American Malorie Rutledge played the ball to sophomore Taryne Boudreau in the right side of the penalty area. While battling a defender one-on-one, Boudreau was taken down just outside the six-yard box and awarded a penalty. Clarke stepped up to the spot and fired a strike off the left post and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
For her performance in scoring three goals in three games at the SEC Tournament, Clarke earned one spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team along with fellow seniors Rutledge and Nikki Bush. This is the second year in a row that Bush was named to the all-tournament team after receiving a selection in 2008.
The Tigers had their first ever SEC Tournament Championship within their grip until Gamecock defender Blakely Mattern scored the equalizer with just over two minutes remaining in the match. Mattern finished a give-and-go with teammate Kayla Grimsley at the 87:52 mark for her seventh goal of the season.
Despite dropping a 8-7 decision in penalty kicks, LSU extended its unbeaten streak to four games against the Gamecocks (18-3-1) as the match is officially classified as a draw.
Penalty Kicks
USC (goalkeeper Mollie Patton)
1. Samantha Diaz-Matosas - Good, low left
2. Kim Miller - Good, low left off GK hand
3. Blakely Mattern - Good, low left
4. Lindsay Small - Good, low left
5. Kayla Grimsley - Saved, high left
SD1. Kortney Rhoades - Good, high right
SD2. Brittiny Rhoades - Good, low middle
SD3. Brooke Jacobs - Good, low left
SD4. Maddy Kill - Good, low right
LSU (goalkeeper Mo Isom)
1. Katherine Lagow - Missed, wide right
2. Taryne Boudreau - Good, high right
3. Brittany Lowe - Good, low right
4. Melissa Clarke - Good, low right
5. Amanda Carreno - Good, low middle
SD1. Tricia Johnson - Good, high left (freshman who hadn't played in the match)
SD2. Courtney Alexander - Good, high left
SD3. Mo Isom - Good, low left
SD4. Chelsea Potts - Saved, low left
