Alabama (7-4-2, 2-2-1 SEC) has gone into double overtime the past two years against LSU, but hasn’t pulled through with a win since 2005. Always finishing in the top half of the league, LSU coach Todd Bramble said has been a tough team to compete against and that can be expected Thursday.
“We just need to play a lot better than we did [Sunday],” Bramble said. “In all three phases of the game – we could be better in possession and creating chances, we need to be better defensively in the raw play which is how we gave up that goal, also, in defending our set pieces.”
While the Crimson Tide took many shots, they were unable to get the ball to the back of the net. It was the defense that allowed Ole Miss to score, and it is the defense that will have to prevent LSU from doing the same. This season, Alabama’s defense has been the backbone of the team and can hopefully use that strength for Thursday.
“If we keep defending as a team – just our communication and everything has been so well lately – that if we can keep that up, we can continue to get shutouts and limit the goals that are allowed, which helps the whole team,” defender Jordan Meier said.
It’s not just the defense that needs to be ready for this upcoming game. Offensively, Alabama still has some issues it needs to work out to come together as a team in order to make it to the postseason.
“We need to take pride in all our chances on goal, and hopefully, obviously, score,” senior forward Laura Lee Smith said. “Also, just work hard and play off each other more than we have been.”
Traveling all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Alabama soccer team kicks off the game Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will air on the SEC Network.
