NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The LSU Soccer team fell for the second time in as many matches on its travels in Southeastern Conference play with a 3-0 defeat at Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon as the Commodores earned the points with two goals in the opening 30 minutes and a third in the second half at the VU Soccer Complex.

The Tigers (6-6, 1-3 SEC) saw their three-match unbeaten streak in the series snapped as the Commodores (7-4, 3-1) picked up their first three points against LSU since a 2-1 win on Oct. 7, 2011.

LSU’s All-SEC front line of junior Jorian Baucom and senior Summer Clarke fashioned the first chance of the match for the visitors after 20 minutes as Baucom squared to Clarke at the top of the box for a quick strike on target that was saved by Commodore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner. It was the Tigers’ second shot on goal of the match after Nicole Howard put an attempt on frame just 11 seconds after kickoff.

Vanderbilt broke the deadlock just three minutes later from a throw-in when freshman midfielder Grace Jackson headed home a cross to the back post by senior defender Sasha Gray for 1-0 in the 23^rd minute.

The Tigers nearly found an answer 93 seconds later as Clarke returned the favor after taking possession in the left side of the area as she played Baucom into space near the penalty spot for an open look that was wide right. The Commodores doubled their advantage at the half-hour mark when the Tigers were unable to clear their lines in their own defensive third and Hannon Eberts poked home the loose ball to give the home side a 2-0 lead at the 29:30 mark of the first half.

Clarke nearly found the scoresheet again just four minutes from halftime when she freed herself in the box for a shot that was punched away by a diving Fahrner in the 41st minute. Both of Clarke’s first-half attempts found the target as the Tigers went into the break with four total shots and three shots on goal.

Junior defender Cristina De Zeeuw trebled Vanderbilt’s lead shortly after the break when she headed Lydia Simmons’ corner kick into the back of the net on 56 minutes for their three-goal cushion.

Freshman midfielder Marlena Cutura came closest to finding the scoresheet for the Tigers in the second half after playing a short corner kick to Clarke and rifling the return ball to the far post where it was punched out of danger again by Fahrner reacting to her right. Senior Megan Lee was also presented an opportunity as the clocked ticked into the 86^th minute as she fired across the face of goal from close-range after a free kick into the box by junior Debbie Hahn was spilled by Fahrner eight yards out.

Eight of LSU’s 13 shot attempts found the target in the match, while the Commodores put six of their 10 shots on frame in the 90 minutes. Each team attempted four corner kicks in the match.

The Tigers return to Baton Rouge next weekend to play host to the No. 9-ranked Florida Gators on Friday night in a match that is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT. They will contest each of their next two SEC fixtures in Baton Rouge as they also host Tennessee at the LSU Soccer Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 6, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network+.

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