Lady'Backs fall in finale

BATON ROUGE, La. – Senior Jenni Brashear and the rest of the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team fought valiantly in their final game of the 2004 season, but after surrendering a goal in the 84th minute were unable to net the equalizer, eventually falling to the Tigers 3-0 in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday night.

Playing for their post season lives, the Lady Razorbacks played with a sense of urgency throughout the contest, but each Arkansas attack was countered by a LSU defensive stand as the Tigers put eight and nine players behind the ball. Arkansas did manage to create several chances, especially in the second half, but LSU continued to stymie the Lady Razorback attack.

“Obviously we are disappointed with the loss,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “It was a well played game by both teams and to give up a late goal like we did is very disappointing. I am very proud of how far we have come this year. I know that the team is disappointed by not making the SEC Tournament, but the reality of it is that from coaches to peers to fans, everyone has seen and commented on how far we have come in such a short period of time.

Playing one of the finest games of her career in what ended up being her final contest, Brashear looked tremendous as she played off fellow forward Sarah Gwisdala and forced the LSU defense to mark her throughout the contest. Brashear ended the game with a pair of shots including one on face.

“What a great servant for Arkansas Jenni has been,” Henderson said. “All one can hope is that after the frustration is gone, Jenni remembers her friends that she made and the great times she had at Arkansas.”

Tied deep into the contest, Arkansas surrendered a corner kick from the left side which Brashear was able to clear over the Arkansas goal by out jumping a host of LSU attackers. The next corner, this time from the right side, was sent to the far post where it eventually landed on the turf and was knocked in by LSU’s Stacey Bishop at 83:46.

Down by a goal, Arkansas pushed everyone forward including goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver in an attempt to tie the score and force overtime in the closing moments. What happened was a pair of quick LSU counter attacks that caught Arkansas in the LSU half of the field. LSU senior Artie Brown connected on both tries to become the Tigers all-time leading scorer and ice the game for LSU.

For Arkansas, Dillsaver looked great throughout the match even making a pair of saves that kept the game scoreless. On one occasion, Bishop took a 25-yard shot from the center of the field which Dillsaver reached high for and knocked over the Arkansas goal with the palm of her hand. Had she not made the save, LSU would have taken a 1-0 lead midway through the first half.

Arkansas’ loss ends its season at 6-11-2 overall and 2-7-2 in SEC play while LSU improves to 6-11-1 and 2-8-1 in conference action.

For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.