Auburn soccer beats LSU

Auburn soccer used 18 shots on goal to dominate LSU 3-1 Friday night at the Auburn Sports Complex.

Auburn coach Karen Hoppa said the team desperately needed this win.

"We were coming off a three-game losing streak and had been on the road the last four games, so it was great to come back home and get a big win to get us back on track," Hoppa said.

Midfielder Ana Cate scored the first goal at the 25:35 mark of the first half.

"It started out a corner kick, and Katy (Frierson) played it to me, and I lost possession," Cate said. "Then, Tatiana (Coleman) got it back and played back to me, and I just kept my eye on the ball the whole time and knocked it in."

Cate's goal was the only one in the first half by either team, though Auburn already had a big margin with a 10-2 edge for shots on goal.

Hoppa said this win was all about the team coming together.

"I think the team as a whole responded well," she said. "They were not pleased with last weekend, and I thought the team played really well.

"I don't think it was one individual that stood out. I think everyone was like, 'We need to step up our game,' and they played really quality soccer tonight."

The second half produced more points than the first. There was a 20-minute stretch where three goals were scored, two by Auburn, one by LSU.

Auburn's two goals came by Tori Ball in the 61:06 mark and Katy Frierson at the 79:36 mark. LSU's only goal came at the 75:51 mark by Natalie Martineau.

LSU entered the game losing only once in the last 11 games and had a two-game lead in the Western division over second-place Auburn.

Auburn now holds the tiebreaker over LSU, but needs them to lose one more game to take the lead in the division.

Goalkeeper Amy Howard said beating a team like LSU builds confidence.

"They are ranked in some of the polls," Howard said. "We came out tonight and really played a good game against a good team."