Arkansas is the Southeastern Conference runner-up for the third consecutive season.
The Razorbacks lost to LSU 4-1 in penalty kicks Sunday in the championship game of the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. LSU freshman Abbey Newton’s penalty kick clinched the Tigers’ first SEC championship in their second title game.
Arkansas failed to win in the championship round for the fifth time since 1993. The Razorbacks lost championship games against Florida and Texas A&M the previous two seasons.
LSU made all four of its penalty-kick attempts against Arkansas goalkeeper Taylor Beitz, who went the opposite direction of the kick in all four tries. LSU defeated Tennessee 7-6 in penalty kicks to advance in the tournament quarterfinals and improved to 15 of 17 in penalty kick attempts this year.
Arkansas fell behind 3-0 in the penalty kick round after junior Stefani Doyle had an attempt saved by LSU goalkeeper Caroline Brockmeier and sophomore Taylor Malham’s attempt along the ground went off the left post. Haley VanFossen made the Razorbacks’ third attempt to pull Arkansas within 3-1 before Newton’s game-winning goal.
Alex Thomas, Adrienne Richardson and Marlena Cutura also made kicks in the shootout for LSU (13-6-3). It was the third time an SEC championship was determined by penalty kicks.
LSU became the first team to win an SEC title by playing four games in the tournament. Three of the Tigers’ wins in Orange Beach went to overtime.
The game was tied 1-1 after the 90-minute regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. Arkansas had multiple chances to win in the first overtime, but Brockmeier made saves on a bicycle kick by Tori Cannata in the first minute of overtime and a header by Abbi Neece in the third minute.
LSU tied the game 1-1 on a kick well outside the 18-yard box by freshman Shannon Cooke in the 72nd minute. Cooke, who did not score a goal in the regular season but scored twice in the tournament, had an open look and put it in the top right corner past the diving Beitz.
Arkansas scored the game’s first goal on Malham’s header in the 13th minute. Her fifth goal was a rebound from Doyle’s shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. Malham headed the ball just past the outstretched hands of Brockmeier and put the ball inside the left post.
Malham had an opportunity to give Arkansas a 2-1 lead in the 83rd minute, but a good look went off the left post.
Arkansas out-shot LSU 20-16, but only 3-1 on goal. The Tigers avenged a 2-1 loss to the Razorbacks in double overtime on Oct. 4 in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks (13-4-4) are expected to host a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament next Friday or Saturday. The NCAA selection show is scheduled to air Monday at 3:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.