Arkansas travels to LSU for finale

Soccer

By: Denise Bargiachi

Posted: 10/31/08

The Razorback soccer team (11-7-0, 4-6-0) faces its final regular season game of the season against the LSU Tigers (12-3-1, 6-3-1) in Baton Rouge Friday.

The Tigers are ranked in the top 30 in four national polls, and rank as high as No. 14 in two polls.

The Razorbacks are currently ranked fifth in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference, while LSU is ranked first.

The Razorbacks need a win against the Tigers to advance to the SEC tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Tigers are tied with Auburn for first place in the division, but LSU remains ahead of Auburn in the rankings because of a head-to-head win earlier this season.

The Razorbacks are coming off a loss to South Carolina Sunday afternoon. The game was the final home game for the Razorbacks, and senior night for seniors Sarah Gwisdala, Abbey Wilburn, Whitney Allison, Lindsay Patterson and Megan Fawley.

Head Coach Gordon Henderson said wind was a big factor in their loss against South Carolina. Having the wind against them during the first half, the Razorbacks were forced into a situation where they had to play catch-up in the second half, he said.

Henderson said the Razorbacks are not comfortable in a catch-up situation.

The Razorbacks have scored more goals in the second half of their games this season, but their opponents have scored a total of 16 in the second half this season compared to a mere four goals in the first.

"Overall, [on Sunday] South Carolina played a better game than we did," Henderson said. "They played a more consistent game from the start of the game to the end of the game. I can't help but wonder if the occasion got the better of us today. We're going to have to dust this one off and go down to LSU and find a way to get a win."