- Ireland Churchill notched her third brace of the season, jumping into 12th on the Texas A&M freshman goals list with nine.
- Kieana Smith netted her first collegiate goal to put the Aggies up 3-2 in the 69th minute.
- LSU won the game on a penalty kick with 50 seconds remaining.
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to LSU after conceding a last-minute winner Sunday afternoon at Ellis Field.
Ireland Churchill wreaked havoc on the Bayou Bengals' backline in the opening 45 minutes, striking the post in the first minute before finding the back of the net twice. The freshman opened the scoring in the 12th minute following a brilliant run from Trinity Buchanan before doubling the Aggies' advantage from the penalty spot just seven minutes later. Churchill also hit the crossbar in the second half.
LSU pulled one back just before halftime when Emma Alvord delivered a swinging cross into the box that Amy Smith headed home in the 43rd minute.
At the break, LSU (4-9-3, 2-4-2 SEC) held an 11-7 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks, but the Aggies led 4-2 in shots on goal.
Starting the second half, LSU's mounting pressure paid off when the Texas A&M (4-10-1, 0-7-1 SEC) failed to clear a cross, allowing the Tigers to level the score. The Maroon & White wasted no time responding, reclaiming the lead just 50 seconds later when Kieana Smith connected with Ava Sexton's cross from near midfield.
The Tigers continued to battle back, eventually finding another equalizer after pouncing on a rebound from a header. With just 50 seconds remaining, the Aggies were whistled for a handball inside the box, allowing LSU to convert the ensuing penalty and take the lead for good.
LSU finished with a 21-13 advantage in shots, including an 8-6 edge in shots on goal, while also holding a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks.
GOAL SUMMARY
12’ | Buchanan carried the ball into the Tigers' half before finding Churchill on the right side of the box, whose first-time strike soared past the diving netminder. A&M 1, LSU 0
19’ | Churchill skillfully dribbled past two Bayou Bengals before being tackled from behind as she entered the box. The freshman then emphatically dispatched the ensuing penalty into the bottom-left corner. A&M 2, LSU 0
43’ | The Tigers pulled one back just before halftime when Emma Alvord delivered a swinging cross into the box that Amy Smith headed home. A&M 2, LSU 1
68’ | Ava Amsden played the ball to Ava Galligan at the top of the box, who slipped Sariyah Bailey in behind the defense to slot her shot into the bottom-right corner. A&M 2, LSU 2
68’ | Sexton delivered a free kick from the halfway line into the box, where Kiana Smith made a darting run and placed her strike into the bottom-right corner. A&M 3, LSU 2
80’| Ryann Denecour delivered a cross meeting Galligan’s head which was saved by Syndey Fuller, but Smith crashed in on the rebound. A&M 3, LSU 3
90’ | Amsden converted from the spot for LSU in the dying seconds. A&M 3, LSU 4
UP NEXT
Texas A&M makes its final regular-season road trip when the Aggies head to Columbia for Thursday’s 8 p.m. contest against the Missouri Tigers.