Sept. 25, 2015
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AUBURN, Ala. - It might have taken an extra period and then some, but No. 13 Auburn soccer came out on top Friday night in thrilling fashion, beating LSU, 3-2, in double-overtime after a game-winning header by junior Casie Ramsier.
By the 103rd minute, Auburn (9-1-0, 2-1-0 SEC) and LSU (7-2-2, 1-2-0 SEC) had battled back and forth through multiple lead changes and even a late penalty kick by LSU to send the game into extra time.
However, a determined Auburn squad broke through the LSU defense three minutes into the second overtime period. Kala Faulkner fed a ball to Hannah Alspach, who then crossed it in near the left post where Ramsier finished with the header for the game-winner.
"We were just all pushing forward," Ramsier said. "We knew if we got one in it was going to end it. We knew we wanted to get everyone up, get something on the box and get it on frame."
"I really felt we deserved it," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "LSU is a great team. Credit to them to battle back in this game, but I thought we deserved it. We outshot them and out-cornered them. I was really worried we were going to regret missing some of those chances that we had. We had plenty of opportunities to put it away in regulation and we didn't. But, what a testament to this team in fighting back like they did."
Although the game-winner was the one that mattered, Ramsier had quite the night. After LSU took the early 1-0 lead after 11 minutes, Ramsier was there to equalize the game in the 40th minute right before halftime off a great corner from freshman Charlotte Van Ishoven.
After the break, with the score still 1-1, Ramsier was there, again, for Auburn, but this time with the helping hand. After a free kick from midfield by Faulkner, Ramsier settled the ball just outside the box and fed freshman Taylor Troutman on the left side. With no one between her and the keeper, Troutman fired with the left foot from just inside the corner of the box, scoring her second goal of the year.
The two-goal match by Ramsier marks her second two-goal game of the season, the last one coming against UAB in this season's home opener. It is also her first five point game of her career, the first five point game by an Auburn player since 2012. Ramsier now has six goals on the year to lead the team and 14 points, which is also a team-best.
"Our two captains (Kala Faulkner, Casie Ramsier) led us tonight," Hoppa said. This team has unbelievable leadership and it showed tonight."
"This game shows what this team is capable of," Ramsier said. "It shows how much we've grown, especially for the older girls. This year, we have a great team chemistry and we're all working towards the same goal. You can see it on the field."
A great crowd of 925 was on hand at the AU Soccer Complex Friday night, as it witnessed Auburn's second double-overtime win. Auburn's last double-overtime win came at Long Beach State in the second game of the year, where the other twin, Brooke Ramsier, hit the game-winner in a 1-0 victory.
Auburn outshot LSU, 23-12, and won the corners game, 14-6. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau withstood an onslaught of eight shots on goal, one being the penalty kick by Jorian Baucom in the final five minutes of regulation. Le Beau still picked up her ninth victory of the year, making four saves on the night.
Up Next
Auburn will try to extend the winning streak to four matches when ninth-ranked Florida comes to town for a 1 p.m. kick on Sunday. The matchup will be Auburn's first against a ranked opponent this season. The Tigers are currently 6-0-0 at home and will try to protect home field Sunday.
The game will be televised online only on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com. Live audio will also be streaming of the match online on AuburnTigers.com for free and locally on the radio waves on WEGL 91.1 FM.
For more information on Auburn soccer, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter, @AuburnSoccer or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSoccer.