Tournament spot up for grabs in finale at LSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorback soccer team heads to Baton Rouge, La., to take on defending SEC Western Division champion LSU in the 2008 regular-season finale in a Friday evening matchup. Entering the final game, Arkansas (11-7, 4-6) sits in ninth place of the SEC standings, one point behind Alabama and Ole Miss, and needs at least a tie with the Tigers to become eligible for one of the final two spots to the 2008 SEC Soccer Tournament.LSU leads the all-time series, 7-5-1, including last season’s 1-0 overtime victory in Fayetteville. Arkansas’ last win over the Tigers was a 3-2 home triumph during the 2003 season. Its only win in Baton Rouge came in 1996, a 2-0 shutout on the Tigers’ home field. LSU has won four straight in the series, but the past three meetings have been decided by one goal.Arkansas is fourth in the SEC in goals (33) and total points (95). The Razorbacks are fifth in the league with 21 goals allowed during the season and they are shared atop the league with eight shutouts.Individually, Lindsay Patterson leads with the team with 15 points and is tied for 10th in the SEC among a group of players with six goals on the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Britni Williams shares the conference lead with seven shutouts. She is sixth in the SEC with a 1.18 goals against average.LSU (12-3-1, 6-3-1) is tied with Auburn for the Western Division lead heading in the last game of the season. The Tigers are the league’s top-scoring team with 2.56 goals per game and have the stingiest defense, allowing just 0.69 goals per game. LSU has outscored its opponents this season, 41-11.Offensively, the Tigers are led by junior midfielder Malorie Rutledge and her SEC-leading 31 points—eight goals and 15 assists. She is also tops in the conference with the 15-assist total. Junior forward Rachel Yepez is tied for fifth in the league with 22 points. LSU has five players—Rutledge (31), Yepez (22), Michelle Makasini (18), Roslyn Jones (16) and Melissa Clarke (12)—with double-digit point totals.In goal, freshman Mo Isom has played every minute for the Tigers. In 16 games, she carries a 0.68 goals against average and has seven shutouts. LSU returns nine starters from last season’s squad, including four All-SEC selections.The game, set for play at the LSU Soccer Complex, is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. For full coverage and live stats of Arkansas’ game at LSU, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.