FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A team-leading 12^th goal of the season by sophomore striker and All-SEC contender Jorian Baucom in the 17^th minute of play was all the Tigers needed to pick up a vital three points on their SEC travels as they brought home a 1-0 victory from Arkansas’ Razorback Field on a blustery Thursday night on the SEC Network.

Facing a quick turnaround from their trip to Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday afternoon where they met the 12^th-ranked Gators, the Tigers (9-4-3, 3-4-1 SEC) got back in the win column and took a big step toward SEC and Tournament qualification while extending their unbeaten streak to 12-straight matches over the Razorbacks (5-9-1, 1-6-1) dating back to the 2004 season.

The Tigers improved to 11-0-1 against Arkansas in their last 12 matches on the pitch, while they extended their winning streak in Fayetteville to seven while outscoring Arkansas by a 21-7 margin in that span.

“It’s tough any time you go on the road in the SEC, especially on a shorter week after a tough road trip on Sunday like we had,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “I’m proud of the way we approached the game tonight. It was a battle to the end. I thought we were very good for our lead in the first half, and stayed composed and organized in the second half to see it  through to the end.”

Baucom scored the breakthrough in the 17^th minute with a brilliant dribble and finish down the right side as she put the Tigers on top 1-0 at the 16:51 mark with her team-leading 12^th goal of the season.

After taking possession in space near the touch line down the right side of the field, Baucom split two defenders on the edge of the penalty area and drove toward goal with an initial shot that was blocked by Arkansas defense. The sophomore striker composed herself and buried the rebound from eight yards inside the right post past the outstretched arms of Razorback goalkeeper Jordan Harris.

Baucom nearly doubled LSU’s advantage 10 minutes later when one of the Arkansas center backs failed to clear the danger as the ball squirted into space about 30 yards from goal. Baucom raced onto the loose ball for a one-on-one opportunity with Harris, but she blazed a shot from the top of the area just over the crossbar.

The Tigers were well worth their 1-0 lead at the break while finishing with nine attempts, two shots on target and two corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes of the match. Senior goalkeeper Catalina Rubiano saved the four shots on target she faced from Arkansas’ seven shots in the first half, while the Razorbacks managed a single corner kick before going to the locker room.

Freshman defender Alex Thomas created LSU’s first opportunity of the second half just six minutes after the restart when she played a nice one-two near the far touch line and beat three Arkansas defenders into the penalty area for an angled attempt from 10 yards that found the side netting.

Senior midfielder Natalia Gomez-Junco also came close to giving the visitors a two-goal cushion midway through the second half from a one-time effort from 20 yards that forced a diving save from Harris in goal.

Rubiano was strong in goal once again for the Tigers as she made six saves from Arkansas’ 13 shot attempts on the night, including a quick reaction save from Claire Kelley’s close-range effort just inside the six-yard box in the right side in the 72^nd minute. The senior from New Orleans kept her fifth clean sheet of the season, including her second in four matches in SEC play.

“Tonight was a big step forward for our team as we push for SEC and NCAA Tournament qualification down the stretch,” Lee said. “It’s great to come here to a tough place to play and get the three points. It will be very important for us to get back tonight, take some time this weekend to get our legs back under us and prepare for another big step at home next weekend to get to where we want to be.”

The Tigers are now ready to hit the homestretch for their 2015 regular season as they return to the LSU Soccer Stadium in Baton Rouge for their final home weekend of the season while playing host to Mississippi State on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. CDT before battling nationally-ranked South Carolina on Senior Day on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. CDT.

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