Bulldogs prevail in OT and upset No. 5 LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. – With a dramatic aim within the remaining minute of additional time, the College of Georgia soccer staff upset No. 5 LSU, 2-1, Sunday afternoon earlier than 1,234 spectators on the LSU Soccer Stadium.

With solely 45 seconds remaining within the first additional time interval, graduate defended Kayla Bruster stole the ball and handed it forward to graduate ahead Mollie Belisle for the game-winning rating, her nation-leading twelfth of the season. The aim sealed Georgia’s first victory over a top-five opponent since a 2-1 win over No. 4 Texas A&M on Sept. 27, 2015.

“Not a simple place to play, an amazing staff to play towards, and our children battled for 90 minutes plus,” stated Georgia head coach Billy Lesesne following the match. “I am simply extremely happy with their work ethic and what they earned on the finish of this match is one thing we are able to hopefully construct on. Extremely happy with this group.”

LSU (8-2-0, 1-2-0 SEC) outshot Georgia (8-2-1, 1-1-1 SEC), 23-17, making Sunday the primary win of the season by which the Bulldogs had been outshot. Senior midfielder Dani Murguia led the Bulldogs wih 5 pictures, whereas Belisle and senior midfielder Abby Boyan every posted 4. In aim, senior goalkeeper Emory Wegener set a brand new profession excessive with 10 saves.

Within the early moments, Georgia discovered itself with a few nice possibilities, however a pair of pictures from Murguia and Boyan went excessive. The Bulldogs would quickly get on the board as Boyan drew a foul on a deal with within the field, resulting in Murguia’s second penalty make of the season within the thirteenth minute. Later within the half, Bruster helped cease an LSU scoring probability as she narrowly cleared a Tigers cross contained in the six.

LSU quickly discovered its equalizer, benefiting from Georgia’s first yellow card of the season known as on freshman midfielder Morgan Hart. After the preliminary free kick was stopped on a diving save by Wegener, Tiger ahead Rammie Noel knocked within the deflection within the twenty ninth minute. The Tigers nearly added one other rating earlier than halftime, however a diving save from Wegener helped preserve the margin.

Early within the second half, Murguia almost tacked on one other rating as she blocked the LSU keeper’s clearance, however she was unable to transform after being tackled within the field. On the following Tiger possession, Wegener continued her robust play with a leaping rejection on an extended strike from outdoors the 18. Within the fifty fifth minute, sophomore ahead Madison Haugen earned two nice seems, however robust play from the LSU protection stored the match tied.

Belisle additionally missed out on a pair of scoring alternatives, kicking excessive on an empty internet and simply lacking the online with a header off a nook kick. Within the 66th minute, senior midfielder Bella Ponzi earned Georgia’s second yellow card of the match, however the LSU free kick was fruitless. Two minutes later, the Tigers almost took the lead with the shot simply hitting the precise put up.

Within the 82nd minute, LSU seemed to go forward with a free kick, however a pair of vital saves from Wegener helped her clinch her new personal-best mark. The streak of shut calls continued for Georgia as Murguia and junior ahead Mallie McKenzie each confronted open seems within the stretch run because the groups headed to additional time.

The additional time interval was principally quiet till the ultimate moments as Bruster dispossessed an LSU participant and despatched the ball forward to Belisle, who deposited the sport winner within the left nook of the online with simply 45 seconds remaining within the interval.

Georgia returns house subsequent weekend because it hosts Arkansas on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. on the Turner Soccer Complicated. Admission is free for all spectators and the match might be aired on ESPNU.

For full data on Georgia soccer, comply with the staff on its social media channels by way of @UGASoccer on Twitter, Fb, and Instagram.