Da Boot Sports
12/3/2025
​By: Da Boot Sports Staff

   Please donate to our toy drive if you can. Any amount will help a child smile on Christmas morning....  $20, $10 or even $5 will male all the difference in the world. Thank You and God Bless....

​*John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
11/24/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal

   NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The LSU Soccer team (15-6-4) had its 2025 season come to a close in the Sweet Sixteen on Monday afternoon after falling to the No. 1-seed Vanderbilt Commodores (18-3-2) by a score of 1-0 at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.

   The lone goal of the match came in the 65th minute as Melania Fullerton converted from six yards out on a half-volley shot.

   The defeat brings an end to one of the best seasons in program history, with the Tigers reaching the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and won 15 matches on the season, which sits tied for the most in program history alongside 2000 and 2009.

   The Commodores controlled the pace of the match in the opening 30 minutes. Vanderbilt tested LSU’s Audur Scheving with shots on goals in the 10th, 29th, and 30th minutes that were saved by the Icelandic goalkeeper. 

   The final 15 minutes of the half saw the Tigers open up offensively, defender Sydney Cheesman had her shot on target in the 38th minute saved by Sara Wojdelko, the first save of the day for the Commodore keeper. Scheving picked up two more saves in the final 15 minutes (35’ and 44’) as the first half ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

   The second half opened with LSU on the attacking front and pressuring Vanderbilt’s defense. Midfielder Gabbi Ceballos had her powerful shot in the 51st minute saved by Wojdelko, followed by a three shot sequence in the 60th minute that saw dangerous looks inside the Vanderbilt box all blocked by great defensive efforts from Commodore defenders.

   The breakthrough came in the 65th minute from Fullerton. A Vanderbilt cross into the box was headed at the back post to the center of the box. Fullerton found herself in the right place at the right time as she pounced on the loose ball with a half-volley effort that ripped into the back of the net and made it 1-0 in the match.

   LSU responded with strong attacking intent in the final 25 minutes of the match. Ceballos forced a save in the 70th minute before the referee blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot in the 73rd minute following a foul in the box on forward Morgan Witz. Midfielder Ida Hermansdottir stepped up to the penalty spot for the Tigers, but her shot to the bottom-left corner was parried away by an outstretched Wojdelko to keep the home team ahead in the match.
The Tigers were relentless in the final 15 minutes of the match but were not able to find an equalizer. The final whistle blew with a 1-0 scoreline, bringing an end to a terrific season of play for LSU.

   Vanderbilt outshot LSU by a margin of 18-11, with the Commodores having seven shots on frame compared to the Tigers’ four. Scheving finished the day with six saves while Wojdelko had four, including the crucial penalty save in the 72nd minute.

   The Tigers finished the season at 15-6-4 in what was head coach Sian Hudson’s strongest year at the helm yet. The team averaged just over two goals a game with 52 goals scored in 25 matches and outscored their opponents by a margin of 52-25. Along the way, the team made the SEC Tournament Championship for only the third time in program history and strung together a 13 match unbeaten streak that began in mid-September and lasted until today’s match.

Da Boot Sports
11/20/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The LSU Soccer Team (15-4-5) punched their ticket to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen on Friday afternoon with a 2-1 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-5-4) at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.

   It was a come-from-behind effort for the Tigers as Iowa scored the first goal of the match in the 14th minute with a goal from Elle Wildman. LSU struck back in the 17th minute when midfielder Ida Hermansdottir equalized from the penalty spot before forward Ava Galligan scored the go ahead in the 66th minute with a rocket shot near-post from nine yards out.

   With the win, the Tigers advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

  The Hawkeyes opened the match with attacking intent and applied pressure in the opening seconds. Wildman tested LSU goalkeeper Audur Scheving just 26 seconds into the match with a shot from six yards out that required a save to keep out. 

   Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Kenzie Rolin sent a ground cross from the left flank across the box and to the back post, where Wildman hit it first time from seven yards out and into the bottom left corner.

   It took only three minutes for the Tigers to respond, with forward Sariyah Bailey drawing a foul in the box and earning a penalty kick for the Tigers. Hermansdottir stepped up to the spot and blasted the ball to the bottom-right corner to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was Hermansdottir’s 10th goal of the year, a career-high in a single season for the Icelandic international. 

   Hermansdottir joined Galligan (11) with double digit goal tallies, the first time that LSU has had multiple double-digit goalscorers since the 2009 season (Malorie Rutledge - 13, Melissa Clarke - 12).

   For the remainder of the first half, rain poured onto the pitch and neither team were able to create quality chances in attack. After 45 minutes, the match was split at 1-1.

   The second half opened with the same downpour that affected the first half, keeping the first 20 minutes of the half a stalemate. Galligan had a chance in the 65th minute from just outside the box that was saved by Iowa’s Fernanda Mayrink. 

   The deadlock was broken just a minute later in the 66th. Defender Sydney Cheesman launched a long-through ball from LSU’s half and found a sprinting Galligan. Galligan strided past her defender and dribbled into the box before she smashed a right-footed effort from nine yards out near post to make it 2-1 in the match in favor of the Tigers. The goal was Galligan’s 11th of the season, a team-high, and the 20th of her collegiate career. For Cheesman, the assist was the third of the year.

   The Tigers locked down on defense for the remaining 24 minutes of the match. The Hawkeyes did not register a single shot after the go-ahead goal due to strong team play from the Tigers. The final whistle blew with a final score of 2-1 in favor of LSU.

   The Hawkeyes outshot the Tigers by a margin of 11-9, but LSU had more shots on frame with five compared to Iowa’s three. Mayrink finished the day with three saves while Scheving finished with two.

   The win increased LSU’s win tally to 15 on the season, which tied the program-high set in the 2000 and 2009 seasons. The win also increases the team’s unbeaten streak to 13 matches, boasting a 10-0-3 record since mid-September.

   It was the team’s third win over a top-25 ranked opponent this season, while also battling two ranked opponents to a draw on the year.

   The Tigers will return to action on Monday, November 24 at 2 p.m. CT for third round action against the winner of the Vanderbilt-Clemson match on ESPN+. The winner of Monday’s match will secure their spot in the Elite Eight. 

​*John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
11/14/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Soccer team (14-5-4) booked their spot in the next round of the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 win over Houston Christian (12-9-2) on Friday night at the LSU Soccer Stadium.

   The win marks the second time under head coach Sian Hudson that the Tigers have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and the first since 2022. With tonight’s win, LSU’s unbeaten streak dating back to September now sits at 11 consecutive matches.

   At 14 wins on the season and counting, this LSU team has now tied the second-most wins in a single season in program history and sit one win shy of tying the program record of 15 wins.

   “We got the most important thing and that’s the win,” said Hudson. “We knew coming back from our four-game stretch at the beach that we were going to be carrying a little bit of fatigue coming into tonight, and I think you could see that in our quality in front of the goal, I am so proud of this team. We knew tonight would be difficult, but we wanted to play on Friday night with Tiger Nation in full force. It was great to have the chance to come out here tonight and play at home in front of thousands of our fans and we’re just excited to be moving on to the second round for only the second time in my time here.”

   The Tigers opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a fantastic solo goal from forward Sariyah Bailey before doubling the lead in the 50th minute with a left-footed strike from midfielder Gabbi Ceballos from eight yards out. The Huskies grabbed a goal back in the 68th minute as Ella Remy capitalized on a defensive error to put the ball into the back of the LSU net.

   LSU responded with a goal to make it 3-1 when Bailey bagged her second goal of the night with a left-footed goal from inside the six yard box. The score was stretched to 4-1 only 17 seconds later as midfielder Ida Hermansdottir finished a strong team sequence with a shot into the bottom-right corner from 15 yards out.

   The match was dominated by LSU from the opening minute. The Tigers spent the opening 25 minutes almost exclusively past midfield and pressuring the HCU defense, forcing saves from goalkeeper Emmy McKeon in the 1st, 6th, and 22nd minutes.

   The breakthrough came through in the 26th minute. Bailey received the ball on the left flank, charged into the box and shoved off a defender before dribbling by another and slotting a ground shot past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net from seven yards out to make it 1-0 on the night.

   The remainder of the first half saw LSU’s Audur Scheving pick up her lone save of the night in the 35th minute as she caught a long but powerful free kick from HCU. McKeon picked up her fourth save in the 37th minute to cap off a first half that ended 1-0 in favor of the hosts.

   LSU came out of half time with energy and took only five minutes to extend the lead to 2-0. After a cluster in the box, Ceballos dispossessed an HCU defender, cut inside to go past another defender and slotted home a left-footed strike from eight yards out into the near-post corner. The goal took the midfielder’s tally to four this season, a single-season high for the San Antonio, Texas native.

   The action slowed down for the next 15 minutes but a spark from the Huskies in the 67th minute revived the away team as the lead was cut to 2-1. Remy dispossessed an LSU defender inside her box and calmly finished her chance to give the visitors a chance to start the comeback.

   That comeback chance was denied in the 80th minute as Bailey grabbed her second goal of the night and made it 3-1. Following a miscleared cross into the box, Bailey pounced on the loose ball and struck it first-time with her left foot and drilled the ball from six yards out into the bottom left corner. The goal was Bailey’s eighth of the season and marked the second time that the freshman has scored a brace for her team this year, the other coming in LSU’s 4-1 win over Texas A&M last month.

   “All credit to Sariyah Bailey, she’s had an immense freshman season,” added Hudson. “She put the team on her back tonight with two great goals.”

   The Tigers pressed on the ensuing kickoff and were rewarded with their fourth goal of the night. Midfielder
Ava Amsden intercepted a ball at midfield and played a through ball to Hermansdottir, who took a touch to skip by her defender and then finished with a delicate chip shot from 12 yards out. Hermansdottir’s goal now takes her to nine this year, a new season-high in her final season with the Tigers. The assist was Amsden’s third on the year.

   LSU outshot HCU by a margin of 29-4 and won the possession battle by a dominant 67% to HCU’s 33%. Outside of a defensive error, the Huskies did not possess much of an attacking threat in what was a dominant night from LSU’s midfield and defense.

   LSU will return to action in the second round of the NCAA Tournament when they take on No. 21 Iowa on Thursday, November 20 in Nashville, Tennessee. The winner of LSU-Iowa will take on the winner of Vanderbilt-Clemson in the third round on Sunday, November 23. 

​*John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
11/9/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 5-seed LSU Soccer team (13-5-4) fell in the championship round of the 2025 SEC Tournament on Sunday afternoon in a penalty shootout to the No. 2-seed Vanderbilt Commodores (15-3-2), 1-1 (8-7 PK) at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex.

   The match went to a penalty shootout following two periods of overtime after the Tigers and the Commodores battled to a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Vanderbilt took the win in the 10th round by a score of 8-7 following a save from Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko. 

   Midfielder Gabbi Ceballos opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a headed goal from six yards out on a corner kick. The Commodores equalized in the 70th minute with a goal from Vivian Akyirem following a defensive error from LSU. 

   The match opened with a back and forth opening 20 minutes. The Tigers sent the first shot on goal of the afternoon in the 3rd minute when forward Sariyah Bailey’s shot was saved by Wojdelko. The Commodores responded with shots on goals of their own in the 9th and 17th minutes, both saved by LSU’s Audur Scheving.

   The first goal of the match came in the 26th minute. Midfielder Ida Hermansdottir lined up on the corner kick and sent a ball to the front post, which found the head of a free Ceballos and knocked into the back of the net. The goal took Ceballos season tally to three, while the assist was Hermansdottir’s seventh on the year; marking career-highs in a single season for both.

   LSU saw out the remainder of the half with control of possession and tempo, not allowing the Commodores to register a shot in the remaining 19 minutes. The first half ended with a 1-0 scoreline in favor of the Tigers.

   The second half saw the teams once again split the first 25 minutes. Hermansdottir had a shot saved by Wojdelko in the 50th minute while Scheving denied Maci Teater’s shot on goal in the 53rd minute.

   The Commodores found the equalizing goal in the 70th minute. Akyirem capitalized on a loose ball in the box and tapped the ball into an open net to make it 1-1.

   The remaining 20 minutes of the half was a back-and-forth affair with both teams looking for a go-ahead goal. Bailey tested Wojdelko in the 70th minute with a strong shot from the top of the box, but the Vanderbilt goalkeeper caught the ball. The Commodores had the final chance of the second half in the 90th minute, a long range shot from Olivia Stafford that was comfortably saved by Scheving. After 90 minutes of play, the match was tied at 1-1 and moved to overtime.

    The first overtime period was a dominant one for LSU, but the Tigers were unable to find the golden goal. Hermansdottir forced a save in the 97th minute with a long range attempt, followed by another shot on goal from Bailey in the 100th minute that was once again saved by Wojdelko.

   The second overtime period saw Vanderbilt applying the pressure on the LSU backline. The biggest moment of the period came in the 107th minute as Akyirem found some space from just outside the box and sent a shot on the frame of goal that was saved by Scheving, her fifth of the day. Neither team could find the golden goal, and the match advanced to a penalty shootout after 110 minutes of play.

   The Commodores stepped up first in the shootout, with Courtney Jones’ strong shot ripping the roof of the net to give her team a 1-0 lead. Defender Sydney Cheesman followed her with LSU’s first shot of the shootout, a right-footed effort that found the bottom right corner to tie things up at 1-1.

   Hannah McLaughin was in the second spot for Vanderbilt, but her ground shot to the left side was saved by a diving Scheving. Hermansdottir stepped up after the save from Scheving and placed her pen to the left to score and give LSU a 2-1 lead after the second round.

   Akyirem drilled her penalty to the left to open the third round and was followed by LSU’s Ava Amsden, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and buried her chance in the right corner of the net to give LSU a 3-2 lead after three rounds.

   The fourth round saw Regan Pentz hit a strong shot that smashed the crossbar, giving LSU a chance to close the shootout out with the next kick. Midfielder Gadea Blanco Gonzalez stepped up to the spot, but had her shot to the right saved by a diving Wojdelko. After four rounds in the shootout, LSU held a 3-2 lead.

   In a must-score spot to open the fifth round, Sydney Watts placed her shot in the left corner to near perfection in a spot that the diving Scheving could not get a hand on despite guessing the right way. LSU’s fifth penalty taker was forward Morgan Witz, who had a strong shot to her left parried onto the post by Wojdelko to keep things tied up in the shootout. After five rounds, the score was 3-3 and the shootout entered sudden death.

   The sixth round opened with Ally Bollig drilling her kick into the top-right corner. Midfielder Makenna Dominguez stepped up for the Tigers in the bottom-half, sending a ground shot down the middle of the net and past the goalkeeper to make it 4-4 after six rounds.

   Round seven saw Grace Freeman send Scheving the wrong way and drill her shot to the left corner of the goal. Defender Kelsey Major responded for the Tigers with a low-placed shot to the right corner that kept the Tigers alive and tied the shootout scoreline at 5-5 after seven rounds.

   The eighth round was opened by Maci Teater, who placed a near-perfect penalty in the top-left corner. LSU’s goalscorer Ceballos stepped up to the spot and skipped a ground-shot to the bottom-right corner to keep the match going and tied up at 6-6.

   Margo Matula opened the ninth round with a penalty shot to the middle-right of the goal that narrowly beat Scheving, who stayed planted in the middle of the goal. LSU’s ninth penalty taker was No. 9 Amy Smith, who stayed calm and collected with a placed shot in the bottom-right corner to keep the Tigers alive. After nine rounds, the score was tied at 7-7.

   The tenth round had Mary Beth McLaughlin send a strong ground shot to the bottom-left corner that narrowly beat a fully-stretched Scheving to make it 8-7 in the shootout. Defender Jazmin Ferguson stepped up next for the Tigers, but had her shot to the left side of goal saved by Wojdelko to conclude the penalty shootout at 8-7 and crown Vanderbilt the 2025 SEC Tournament Champions.

   The goalkeepers were the story of the day with both Scheving and Wojdelko finishing with five saves in 110 minutes of play. Wojdelko saved three shots in the shootout while Scheving had two saves and saw one penalty hit the crossbar.

   The defeat brought an end to a strong week in Pensacola for the Tigers, who earned three wins over a seven day period to reach the program’s third SEC Tournament final in program history. As the No. 5 seed, the Tigers were also the lowest seeded team to reach the final in five years.

   The 2025 NCAA Selection Show will air at 3 p.m. CT on Monday, November 10 on NCAA.com. The Tigers will compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this upcoming weekend of November 14-16, time and location to be announced on Monday evening.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
11/6/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 23/25 nationally ranked LSU Soccer team (13-5-3) punched their ticket to the 2025 SEC Tournament Championship with a 3-1 win over the No. 8-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-6-2) in the semifinals on Thursday evening.

   With the win, LSU is now heading to the finals for the third time in program history. The Tigers have a 1-1 record in
the championship match, falling to South Carolina on penalties in 2009 by a score of 1-1 (8-7 PK) and claiming the program’s sole SEC Championship in 2018 with a penalty shootout victory over Arkansas, 1-1 (4-1 PK). 

   As the five seed in 2025, the Tigers are also the lowest seed to reach the SEC championship match since Vanderbilt (7) in 2020.

   The Tigers controlled the pace of the game from the first minute and were rewarded for their play in the 18th minute with
the opening goal. The Tigers took a free kick deep from their own half that flipped the field and deflected off the head of a Mississippi State defender. Galligan found herself in the right place at the right time and poked the ball on the half volley from just outside the box past the goalkeeper into the back of the net. For Galligan, the goal was her 10th of the season, becoming the first LSU player since Jorian Baucom in 2016 to hit double digit goals in a single season.

   In the 29th minute, Vega-Pelenka attempted to control the ball in the Mississippi State box but had her studs slip off the ball and into the leg of midfielder Gadea Blanco Gonzalez, which drew a penalty on VAR review and a red card for Vega-Pelenka. Hermansdottir stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner to give LSU a 2-0 lead and her eighth goal of the season, tying her season-best achieved in 2024. Hermannsdottir is now 8-9 from the spot in her career.

   Riding momentum from the second goal, the LSU lead was stretched to 3-0 just three minutes later. A strong sequence of team play saw Hermansdottir and Gonzalez connect on the right flank before Gonzalez sent a cross into the box for Bailey, who headed it downward to bounce past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal was Bailey’s seventh of the season while the assists took Hermansdottir and Gonzalez’s tallies to six and two respectively.

   The Bulldogs responded just before halftime in the 43rd minute. Ally Perry whipped in a cross from the corner to the back post and found the head of Borman, whose header flew across goal and into the bottom-right corner. The goal was the final major moment of the first half that saw the Tigers hold a 3-1 lead after 45 minutes.

   The second half showed the discipline of the Tigers as they limited the Bulldogs in attack and controlled the tempo of the match. LSU goalkeeper Audur Scheving picked up saves in the 64th and 90th minutes, two easy saves due to strong defense from the Tigers. That was all she wrote for the scoreless second half, with the whistle blowing for a final score of 3-1 in favor of LSU.

   The box score showed an even statline, with both teams having 11 shots each in the match while LSU had six on goal compared to Mississippi State’s three. Outside of the Bulldogs’ goal from the corner in the 42nd minute, however, the Tigers kept the Bulldog attack at bay throughout the match.

   On the season, Thursday’s match was the 13th win of the year for the Tigers, the third-highest mark in program history and the first time that 13 wins have been reached since the 2018 season. The unbeaten streak also continues for LSU and now sits at ten consecutive matches, a program-record.

   LSU will take on the winner of No. 2-seed Vanderbilt and No. 3-seed Georgia in the SEC Championship at 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, November 9. The match will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
11/4/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 5-seed LSU Soccer team (12-5-3) extended its unbeaten streak to nine matches with a 2-0 win over No. 4-seed Tennessee (12-3-3) in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday night in the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex.

   Graduate student Morgan Witz and senior Ida Hermannsdottir led the way for the Tigers on the scoresheet on Tuesday night. With the result, LSU advanced to its first SEC semifinal since 2018, when the Tigers went on to win the tournament and take home their first and only SEC title in program history. 

   It was a battle right out the gate between the Tigers and the Vols on Tuesday evening. Tennessee threatened the Tigers early with two shots in the third minute. LSU would place its first shot of the evening in the 10th minute by junior midfielder Gabbi Ceballos. 

   The Tigers would rattle off three more attempts until junior forward Ava Galligan placed the first shot on target in the match in the 27th minute. Despite chances by the Vols, junior goalkeeper Audur Scheving collected her first save of the night in the 41st minute. 

   The Vols outshot the Tigers 7-5 in the first half, but neither team was able to find the opening goal in the first 45 and the match remained scoreless at halftime.

   LSU came out hot in the second half and wasted no time to get on the board. In the 46th minute, Galligan laid a ball at midfield to freshman forward Sariyah Bailey, who played a low-driven pass into space for Witz to slot in the bottom left corner of the net and give LSU the 1-0 lead. Witz has been a standout for the Tigers in SEC Tournament play, scoring in both the first round and quarterfinal matchups to help secure LSU wins.

   The goal was Witz’s fourth goal of the season, while Bailey tallied her third six assist. 

   Just two minutes later, Bailey would yet again create an opportunity for the Tigers. She sent a pass inside the box to the feet of Galligan, who then took a shot that would get deflected by Tennessee’s goalkeeper Cayden Norris, which senior forward Ida Hermansdottir took advantage of. Hermannsdottir followed through on the rebound and was able to give the Tigers the 2-0 lead. It was Hermansdottir’s seventh goal of the year, moving her career total to 26, the eighth most in LSU Soccer history. Bailey and Galligan were credited with the assists on the goal, as Bailey earned her second assist of the game to increase her total to seven on the year, while Galligan owns six.

   The remaining time of the match saw the Tigers keep the Volunteers at bay, only allowing two shots on target in the second half, at the 61st and 83rd minutes, which Scheving safely collected. LSU would maintain its lead and stifle Tennessee’s rally hopes to secure the win and advance to the semifinal. 

   Scheving finished the night with three crucial saves to keep a clean sheet on the night, her fourth of the season. The junior now has 26 saves on the year with a 0.84 GAAVG.

   While Tennessee outshot LSU 18-13, the Tigers were able to capitalize on their moments to defeat the Vols after previously falling to them earlier this season.

   LSU will next face No. 8-seed Mississippi State on Thursday, November 6, at 3:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network. The winner will advance to the championship match on Sunday, November 9 and play the winner of No. 2-seed Vanderbilt and No. 3-seed Georgia. 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
11/4/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


​   BATON ROUGE, LA - Louisiana State University filled three very key positions on Tuesday afternoon. Wade Rousse was named the 29th School President. Rousse was formaly the President at McNesse State University.

   James Dalton has been named Chancellor and Vice President. Dalton was Alabama University's provost, the highest academic administrative role on their campus, since 2020.

   But perhaps the biggest hire of the day was naming Verge Ausberry full time Atheltic Director. Ausberry, a former standout linebacker for the Tigers has been a part of LSU's athletic department for 24 years. He was named interim AD last week after the University parted ways with Scott Woodward. Without a doubt, LSU athletics is in great hands with Ausberry as he will bring strong leadership. 

   Now it's time to hire an outstanding, new football coach. Very confident that LSU has the right man in place to do so.

​   GEAUX TIGERS!

Da Boot Sports
11/2/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 5-seeded LSU Soccer team (11-5-3) took down No. 12-seed Auburn (5-6-7) in the first round of the 2025 SEC Tournament on Sunday night at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex. 

   The win booked a spot in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal round for LSU, where they’ll take on the No. 4 seed Tennessee Lady Vols at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, November 4 on SEC Network.

   LSU opened the game on the attacking foot and scored the fastest goal on the day between all first round matches on Sunday. Defender Jocelyn Ollivierre took a long free kick from midfield and pinged the ball into the box, which was then headed to the center of the box by Jazmin Ferguson to Galligan, who headed it home into the back of the net in just the eighth minute. The goal took Galligan’s tally on the season to nine, while the assists were Ferguson’s third of the year and Ollivierre’s first.

  Following the goal, LSU remained in control of the match and kept Auburn’s offense at bay. Goalkeeper Sophine Kevorkian registered her first save in the 17th minute as she calmly caught a shot from Auburn’s Erin Flurey.

   The LSU lead was extended to 2-0 in the 27th minute by Witz. LSU pressed Auburn in their own half and forced a takeaway on the right flank. Midfielder Gabbi Ceballos sent a ground pass to Witz, who took a touch on her left foot before shooting a powerful shot with her right from 25 yards out that floated above the Auburn goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal was Witz’s fourth of the season while the assist was Ceballos’ third.

   LSU held firm for the remainder of the half to keep the 2-0 lead after the first 45 minutes of play.

   The second half saw Auburn open with attacking intent, forcing saves from Kevorkian in the 63rd and 66th minutes. Auburn scored their first goal of the night and cut the lead to 2-1 in the 69th minute when Driver headed the ball home from a corner.

   LSU did not flinch after the goal and responded with a goal of their own in the 78th minute to make it 3-1 on the night. Midfielder Ava Amsden sent a through ball into the box to Gadea Blanco Gonzalez. Gonzalez shrugged off her defender and chipped the ball with her left foot from 10 yards out that floated above the goalkeeper and into the right corner of the net. It was the second goal of the season for Gonzalez, who scored in back-to-back games after recently earning her first career goal last week in the Tigers regular season finale against Florida. For Amsden, it’s her second assist of the year.

   Auburn continued to test Kevorkian in the final 20 minutes of the match in search of their second goal and forced saves in the 79th and 83rd minutes. They ultimately found their second goal in the 85th minute, when Sallee capitalized on a defensive error by LSU and shot the ball into an open net to make it 3-2 with five minutes to play.

   The tying goal did not come for Auburn, who had three corners in the final 90 seconds of the match; two of those corners were cleared away by the defense and the other ended in a goalkeeper save from Kevorkian. LSU fought until the final whistle to hold the match at 3-2 in favor of the Purple & Gold. 

   Sunday’s win marked the second year in a row that LSU defeated Auburn in the first round of SEC’s to advance to the next round. 

   LSU was efficient on their chances against Auburn, taking four shots on goal and three of them resulting in goals, while Auburn took 20 attempts and eight were on target. 

   Kevorkian finished the night with six saves in between the posts, which tied her season-high single game total. The three goals scored by LSU tonight means that the Tigers have now scored three or more goals in four of its past five matches and increased the unbeaten streak to eight matches, the longest in program history.

   LSU returns to action in Pensacola on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CT when they take on the No. 4-seed Tennessee Lady Vols. The Lady Vols are 12-2-3 on the season and were the last team to beat LSU in Knoxville on September 21st.
 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
10/26/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: ALyssa Leal


   ​BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Soccer team (10-5-3, 5-2-3 SEC) defeated Florida (6-6-5, 4-3-3 SEC) in their last regular season match of the year on Sunday afternoon at the LSU Soccer Stadium. 

   The Tigers have now secured their highest finish in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) under Head Coach Sian Hudson as they finished the regular season fifth in the standings with 18 points. LSU also concluded their home season with a 6-1-1 record after securing their first victory over Florida in Baton Rouge.

   With their win on Sunday, LSU has now extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches, their longest in program history. The day was led by junior Ava Galligan, who secured a brace against the Gators, as well as goals from freshmen Sariyah Bailey and Gadea Blanco Gonzalez.

   The Tigers opened the match in strong fashion with their fastest goal of the 2025 season. Defender Kelsey Major sent a cross into the box from the left flank that was flicked on by forward Ava Galligan. Galligan’s flick sent the ball to Bailey, who ripped a right footed shot with her first touch from ten yards out into the bottom left corner. The goal was Bailey’s sixth of the year in her stellar debut season.

   LSU stayed on the front foot and continued to apply pressure to the Florida box, forcing Gator goalkeeper Paloma Pena to make saves in the 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, and 17th minutes. Florida was able to test LSU’s Sophine Kevorkian in the 38th and 41st minutes with shots on goal, but the Tiger goalkeeper kept the scoreline at 1-0 heading into halftime.

   The second half was another electric start for the Tigers as they doubled their lead just 25 seconds into the half. Galligan received the ball on the right flank and charged into the box, cut inside on her left foot and ripped a powerful ground shot from 15 yards out that sped past the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. 

   Against the run of play, the Gators cut the lead to 2-1 in the 65th minute. Kai Tsakiris sent a cross into the box from the left flank and found O’Conye, who tapped it past the goalkeeper from six yards out.

   The Gators pressed on searching for an equalizer, forcing saves from Kevorkian in the 72nd and 77th minutes. The 78th minute saw Kevorkian launch a ball to midfield, which was tapped on by Bailey to Galligan. Galligan surged with pace past her defender and into the box, where she poked it with her right foot past the rushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Galligan’s brace took her season total to eight, while the assist was Bailey’s sixth of the year and Kevorkian’s first of her collegiate career.

   Galligan's two goals on the day put her back on top as the Tigers leading goal scorer. Hermannsdottir and Bailey follow with six each, respectively. 

   The strong day was wrapped up in the 84th minute with the first collegiate goal from midfielder Gadea Blanco Gonzalez. Gonzalez pounced on a defensive error from the Gators and tapped the ball into a wide open net to give LSU a 4-1 lead on the day, earning her first career goal as a Tiger after joining the squad this year from Spain. 

   The Tigers four goals against the Gators marked the most goals scored in a single game by LSU against Florida. Overall, LSU dominated Florida on the day, outshooting them by a margin of 19-10 and 13-5 in the shots on goal category. 

   LSU will now begin their postseason journey in the 2025 SEC Tournament next weekend. The Tigers will kick off tournament action against Auburn on Sunday, November 2 at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

   The winner of the first-round match will advance to the quarterfinals on Tuesday, November 4, where they will face Tennessee at 7 p.m. CT at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Florida.

Da Boot Sports
10/19/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   ​BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Soccer team (9-5-3, 4-2-3 SEC) battled Kentucky (10-4-3, 4-2-3 SEC) to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon inside the LSU Soccer Stadium.

   With the tie, LSU remained unbeaten and extended their streak to six matches, matching the program record for longest consecutive unbeaten streak in SEC play last accomplished in 2013. The lone goal for LSU on the day came from midfielder Ida Hermannsdottir, who scored on a penalty kick and is now 6/7 in her career from the spot.

   The match between the Tigers and the Wildcats was BLANK from the start. Both teams looked to create chances, but the Tiger defense dominated a quiet first half, allowing just one shot attempt in the first 45 minutes. 

   Junior Gabbi Ceballos, freshman Sariyah Bailey and Hermannsdottir all tallied shots in the first half, while junior Ava Galligan got the best look for the Tigers in the 29th minute. The forward dribbled to the right side of the box and fired a shot to the goalie’s right, forcing her to make an outstretched save. 

   Neither team was able to find the opening goal and the first half ended scoreless at the break in favor of neither team.

   It was a little bit of the same back-and-forth to start the second half, with both teams battling to find the back of the net. LSU’s Natalie Dvorakova took a strong chance in the 70th minute that had to be saved by the Kentucky keeper. 

   It wasn’t until the final five minutes that the action heated up in Baton Rouge.

   In the 85th minute, LSU was awarded a penalty kick. Hermannsdottir crossed the ball to Kelsey Major in the center of the box. The charging Major was clipped by a Kentucky defender from behind, forcing the referees to give the Tigers a penalty kick. Hermanndottir stepped up to take the kick for LSU and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, breaking the scoring drought on the day.

   The goal was Hermannsdottir’s seventh straight successful goal from the penalty spot, as well as her sixth goal of the season and 25th of her career. The senior now ranks in the top-10 in most career goals in LSU history, sharing the ninth spot with Melissa Clarke and Roslyn Jones.

   Kentucky responded just 23 seconds later. Wildcat midfielder Sydni Fink received a throw-in and dribbled to the right side of the box and sent it to the feet of midfielder Thalia Morisi. Morisi took one touch around the Tiger defender and deposited the ball into the top right corner of the goal, evening the score, 1-1.

   The score held for the remaining three minutes of the match, as neither team could find the go-ahead. LSU totaled nine shots over Kentucky’s six, firing five on goal and attempting three corners. Goalkeeper Sophine Kevorkian made three saves on the day, bringing her season total to 28 saves and 44 in her career at LSU.

   The Tigers will return to the pitch for their regular season finale and senior day on Sunday, Oct. 26, when they host Florida at 2 p.m. CT on SECN+.

​

Photos Below By: Grant Jarreau

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
10/16/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   ​OXFORD, Miss. – The LSU Soccer team (9-5-2, 4-2-2 SEC) took down the Ole Miss Rebels (4-7-2, 0-6-2) by a final score of 4-1 on Thursday night in the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.

   The Tigers moved their unbeaten streak to five matches for the first time since 2013, as well as recording their second straight game with four or more goals, a feat they last accomplished in 2021 (a 5-2 win over No. 21 Arizona State on Sept. 5 and a 5-0 victory over UL-Lafayette on Sept. 9).

   LSU came out hot to open the match in Oxford, quickly tallying a shot by junior defender Kelsey Major in the opening two minutes. Junior goalkeeper Audur Scheving was first tested in the 21st minute and again in the 29th minute.

   The Tigers struck first in the 32nd minute after freshman forward Sariyah Bailey earned a corner kick for LSU. Senior forward Ida Hermannsdottir sent a perfect ball into the box that found the head of junior Gabbi Ceballos, who perfectly whipped it just over the Ole Miss keeper to give LSU a 1-0 lead. The goal was Ceballos’s first of the year and fourth of her career.

   Just two minutes later, Hermannsdottir made another impact off a set piece, this time finding the head of sophomore forward Amy Smith off a corner to give the Tigers the two-goal advantage on the night. It was the first goal of the year for Smith and second assist of the night for Hermannsdottir, moving her total to five on the year.

   LSU held Ole Miss to only two shots in the first half to maintain a 2-0 lead after the first 45 minutes in Oxford.

   In the second period, the Rebels threatened early with two shots on target in the first 15 minutes, but Scheving was able to handle both attempts. Offensively, LSU was stifled on two attempts in the half. However, in the 65th minute, junior forward Ava Galligan received the ball on the right wing and dribbled to the goal line for a cut-back pass to Hermannsdottir, who would slot it into the bottom right of the net to bolster LSU’s lead to 3-0.

   Hermannsdottir tallied a goal of her own after providing the assists for LSU’s first two goals on the night. She now owns five goals this year and 25 in her career. Galligan’s assist on the goal was her second of the year. 

   While holding a three-goal advantage, a foul in LSU’s box awarded Ole Miss a goal from the penalty spot to alter the scoreline to 3-1. The Rebels continued to gain momentum, but the Tiger defense held firm with two saves in the final 25 minutes. 

   With the game winding down, LSU kept their foot on the gas. In the 88th minute, freshman Gadea Blanco Gonzalez dribbled down the right-hand side to drop a square ball to Smith in the penalty area to slot one past the goalie, earning her second goal of the night and the first brace of her career, while Blanco Gonzalez tallied her first career assist at LSU. 

   The match finished 4-1 in favor of the visiting team. LSU outshot Ole Miss 16-10 on the night as well as winning the possession battle 59%-41%. 

   With the win in Oxford, LSU moves their point total to 14 in SEC play with two matches remaining, which guarantees their spot in the 2025 SEC Tournament as one of the top 12 teams in the conference. 

   Now, the Tigers will head back to Baton Rouge for their final two home matches of the regular season. LSU will host Kentucky at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, October 19 for their Greek Night and Pups at the Pitch match before facing Florida in their regular season finale and senior night on Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m. CT.

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
10/10/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Soccer team (8-5-2, 3-2-2 SEC) took down Texas A&M (4-6-4, 1-5-1 SEC) by a final score of 4-1 in front of the fifth largest home crowd in program history on Friday night, as 2,235 fans attended the match inside the LSU Soccer Stadium.

   The victory was the first for LSU over Texas A&M in program history, breaking a 16 year-streak against the Aggies. The Tigers are now unbeaten in their last four SEC matches and have only allowed three goals in those games.

   The Tigers opened the scoring on the night in the 24th minute when defender Jazmin Ferguson headed the ball into the back of the net from six yards out. The lead was extended to 2-0 when forward Sariyah Bailey took on three defenders, dribbled into the box and placed a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner from nine yards out.

   LSU’s third goal of the night saw Bailey double her tally in the 64th minute with a curling right-footed effort from 20 yards out that found the back of the night. The Aggies found their first goal of the night in the 65th minute as Trinity Buchanan found the back of the net. The fourth and final LSU goal of the night came from the Spaniard Daniela Hellín, whose right footed shot from 12 yards out snuck into the back of the net.

   “Coach G is a legend at Texas A&M and I respect him and the unbelievable program they have, but I think our girls are playing really well right now and we showed that tonight,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “We've got three wins and a tie in our last four games, and we continue to build momentum each game. We felt good that we were going to come out tonight and put on a show for our fans, and what a crowd it was. Thank you to all the Tiger fans for coming out in full force!”

   The Tigers opened the night with energy, attacking from the first minute. Forward Amy Smith forced the first save of the night from Texas A&M goalkeeper Maysen Veronda in the 7th minute, followed by midfielder Makenna Dominguez forcing another save in the 10th minute.

  The deadlock was broken in the 24th minute. Defender Sydney Cheesman passed to Ida Hermansdottir on the right flank. Hermansdottir sent in a cross into a loaded box and found the head of Ferguson, who rose above her defender and headed it into the back of the net. The goal marked the second of the season and fourth in her career for Ferguson, while the assist was Hermansdottir’s third and Cheesman’s second on the year.

   LSU maintained control throughout the rest of the first half and took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at half time.

   It took only three minutes after the start of the second half for the Tigers to double the lead. Bailey picked up the ball in the attacking half, took on three Texas A&M defenders and dribbled into the box. Bailey took a touch on her left foot and hit a strong shot across the face of the goal that found the bottom right corner to give LSU a 2-0 lead on the night.

   The lead became 3-0 in the 64th minute with Bailey doubling her goal tally with a stunning shot. Midfielder Gabbi Ceballos sent a through ball to Bailey on the left flank. The freshman cut inside on her right foot and ripped a curling effort from 20 yards out that beat the goalkeeper and landed in the bottom right corner. Bailey’s second goal took her goal tally on the season to five, and she became the first LSU true freshman since Hermansdottir in 2022 to score a brace in the Purple & Gold.

   The Aggies struck back just over a minute after play resumed with their lone goal of the night. Savannah Hutchins sent a strong shot on goal that forced a save from Audur Scheving, but the ball spilled to Buchanan, who was in the right place at the right time to tap the loose ball into an open net and make it 3-1 on the night.

   Despite the goal, LSU stayed in control of the match and limited Texas A&M’s attacking threat the rest of the way. The night was rounded out in the 81st minute as Hellín scored the first goal of her collegiate career. The Tigers broke on a counter attack in numbers, with Bailey playing a ball in the box to Galligan. Galligan held the ball up before sliding a pass to Hellín, who hit first time on her right foot and beat the goalkeeper on pace. The goal was Hellín's first as a Tiger while the assists were Bailey’s fifth of the year and Galligan’s first.

   The Tigers won the possession battle on the night and finished the match with 15 shots over A&M’s 13. Tiger keeper Audi Scheving tallied two saves to help secure the win. 

   LSU will now head to Oxford to face Ole Miss in one of their last three remaining SEC matches of the regular season. The Tigers and the Rebels will kick off on Thursday, October 16 at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network. 



   ​**Please be sure to go to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel every Monday night at 8pm CST for our live podcast, Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports! Our show host David Penn and co-host Mark Hawkins will review Saturday's contest and talk LSU football with a special guest. Monday's special guest will be the rescheduled podcast for former LSU & New York Giants Great, Leonard Marshall. Tune in at 8:00pm CST on October 13 for a great show.... Thank You for your support!  GEAUX TIGERS!!!

   **DA BOOT SPORTS IS NOW UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!!   GEAUX TIGERS!!

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
10/5/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   ATHENS, Ga. – The LSU Soccer team (7-5-2, 2-2-2 SEC) battled it out to a 1-1 draw against No. 17 Georgia (7-3-4, 3-1-2 SEC) on a rainy Sunday night inside Turner Soccer Complex.
   
​   LSU has not lost in Athens since 2016 as they will head back home with a point.

   The Bulldogs opened the scoring on the day in the 75th minute when Kierra Staude’s powerful shot from the top of the box landed in the bottom right corner to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Only three minutes later, Georgia’s Maddy Herniter was sent off due to receiving a second yellow card, forcing the hosts to see out the final 12 minutes with only ten players. The equalizer came on the ensuing free kick, with the ball floated into the box and eventually finding its way into the back of the net for LSU via an own goal.

   The first half was a quiet one, with neither team able to break through the other’s tough defense. Heavy rain rolled into the area around 20 minutes into the match, which only added to the difficulty of moving the ball. Neither team registered a shot on target in the first half nor created any real chances on frame, which meant the first 45 minutes ended in a 0-0 scoreline.

   The second half began with the rain still pouring in, limiting the quality of chances created by either team. LSU’s best look of the game thus far came in the 61st minute as forward Ava Galligan broke free on the counter attack and into the box, beat her defender and had her cross to the back post collected by the Georgia goalkeeper.

   The action ramped up in the final 20 minutes of play. LSU’s Audur Scheving registered her first save of the night in the 74th minute as she dove to her right to parry away a strong shot from a Georgia defender. Only one minute later, however, the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead. Staude received the ball at the top of the box, took a touch into the box and ripped a powerful shot with her left foot across goal and into the bottom right corner.

   The Tigers pushed for an equalizer. Galligan tested the goalkeeper in the 76th minute with a shot from eight yards out that forced Hannah Folliard to register her first save of the night, while Sariyah Bailey also took her fair share at testing the Georgia keeper.

   The match took a turn when Georgia had a player sent off. The Tigers launched a counter attack from their own box, with midfielder Ida Hermansdottir leading the charge. Hermansdottir was fouled at midfield by Herniter, who received a second yellow card for the foul and was sent off as a result.

   Only ten seconds after play resumed, LSU found the equalizer. A ball was lobbed into the box from the free kick, and after a few back and forth headers, the ball eventually did spill into the goal off the head of a Georgia defender to make it 1-1 on the night.

   The final 12 minutes of the match saw neither team able to find a game winner despite a strong effort from LSU. The match ended in a 1-1 draw as it was an even battle in Athens on Sunday night. Both teams registered nine shots and one save each, while Georgia had more corner kicks.

​   LSU is back in action later this week for a Friday night match at the LSU Soccer Stadium, where they’ll host Texas A&M at 7 p.m. CT on October 10. The match will be broadcasted on the SEC Network+.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
10/3/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU (8-6, 1-2 SEC) came up short in a five-set battle against No. 20 Tennessee (12-1, 3-0 SEC), falling 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 16-25, 8-15) Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
   
​   The Tigers came out strong, taking the first two sets behind an efficient offense that finished the match with a .316 hitting percentage on 67 total kills. Defensively, LSU also recorded 10 blocks, marking its sixth double-figure blocking performance and fourth over the last six matches. Tennessee responded with a late surge, rallying to win the final three frames while hitting .350 overall with 68 kills, five aces, and six blocks.

   After claiming the first two sets, LSU battled point-for-point in the third but fell narrowly, 25-23, before Tennessee gained momentum and controlled the final two sets.

   Outside hitter Jurnee Robinson turned in a historic performance, registering a career-high 33 kills on a .375 attack percentage. It was her second career 30-kill match, and she added three blocks.

   Outside hitter Nia Washington produced with 14 kills, along with one ace, one block, and eight digs. In the middle, Sanaa Donaie anchored the Tiger defense with a match-best eight blocks and chipped in three kills. Donaie has a total of 16 blocks in her first pair of collegiate starts.

   The Tigers’ two-setter system was led by Lauren Brooker’s 28 assists, while also contributing two kills and two blocks. Takyla Brown added 25 helpers. Defensive specialist Aly Kirkhoff led the way with 12 digs and recorded her first career kill in the setback.

Set 1
An early 6-1 run by the Tigers gave the home team an 8-4 lead, and Tennessee called an early timeout as LSU increased its lead to 12-6, capped by an ace by Washington. LSU led by as many as eight points at 15-7, but the Lady Vols cut into the lead at 17-13 when the Tigers signaled for their first timeout. LSU held on to its lead and closed the set on a 4-2 run to win the frame, 25-20. LSU outhit Tennessee .448-.148 in the set, led by Robinson’s nine kills on a .615 hitting percentage. Donaie also contributed a kill and a set high three blocks.

Set 2
LSU’s offense was clicking early in the set as four quick kills gave the Bayou Bengals a 4-2 lead that forced an early Tennessee timeout. The Tigers were the first to 15 and were ahead 17-10 when the Lady Vols burned their final timeout of the set. A quick 3-0 run by Tennessee pressured LSU to call its first timeout of the set, and the Lady Vols had an overall 11-6 run to pull within two points at 23-21, but Washington called set with back-to-back kills to give LSU the 25-21 victory. Robinson and Washington split 10 kills evenly as LSU had another strong offensive set with a .423 hitting percentage, and the Tigers turned in five blocks in the stanza, four from Donaie. LSU never trailed in the second set.

Set 3
The third set had nine ties before the media timeout, but LSU held the advantage at 15-14 behind a 4-1 run. However, the Tigers called their first timeout after the Lady Vols scored the following three points out of the TV timeout to take a 17-15 lead. Tennessee’s run continued, and LSU used its final timeout trailing 21-16. LSU fought back with four unanswered points to pull within one point, but Tennessee avoided the sweep, winning the set, 25-23.

Set 4
Tennessee scored the first three points of the set and used a 5-0 run to build a 12-5 lead. The Lady Vols’ margin ballooned to 14-6, and the Tigers blew through both of their timeouts, trailing 16-8. Tennessee stretched its lead to double figures at 19-9 and forced a fifth set with a 25-16 victory.

Set 5
LSU found itself down 8-5 when the teams switched sides, with Tennessee on a 3-0 run, and called a timeout, trailing 10-6. The Lady Vols finished the set with an overall 10-3 run to win the set 15-8 and rally back to take the match.

​Up Next
LSU will take on No. 23 Florida at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Maravich Center.