To play on any team, there’s a balance between showcasing individual talent and fitting into the team philosophy.
Great teams use the individual talent of their players to their full potential and adjust to whatever system will achieve this aim.
By changing formations in the middle of the season from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, the LSU soccer team looked to create more opportunities by using the abilities of sophomore forward Summer Clarke and sophomore defender Megan Lee to attack the flanks.
“When we are 4-3-3, you have a couple more options up top,” said junior forward Lexi Gibbs. “It’s not you and one more person. I guess it’s more structured, and I kind of like that better because I need rules and lines. I prefer 4-3-3, but 4-4-2 is fine. I think it is more creative.”
In the 4-4-2 formation, the forwards are expected to create opportunities based on their creativity, communication and chemistry.
However, the Tigers’ young front line of Clarke and freshman forward Jorian Baucom struggled to create a consistent flow of scoring opportunities.
Out of the 4-4-2, LSU’s offense posted four scoreless games in its first eight contests. The Tigers scored nine goals in this formation, which they played for the majority of LSU’s non-conference schedule.
The Tigers couldn’t take advantage of Clarke’s ability to create opportunities with the ball at her feet on the flanks during the nonconference schedule, despite scoring multiple goals in this formation in other matches.
Within the 4-4-2 scheme, the two forwards play a more central role. The outside midfielders’ main offensive responsibility is to drive the ball into the corners to cross it into the box for the forwards to score off a cross.
The Tigers didn’t score another goal in the air off a cross out of the 4-4-2 formation after Baucom scored the Tigers’ first goal of the season against Troy on a header off a cross.
Coach Brian Lee switched formations in LSU’s first Southeastern Conference match against Missouri on Sept. 19, creating a more dynamic and consistent attack against physical SEC teams.
Within the 4-3-3, the three forwards have more defined roles.
The center forward plays higher and stays central, creating a target for crosses. The outside forwards play wider, similar to outside midfielders in a 4-4-2 but with less defensive responsibility.
“I feel really comfortable [in the 4-4-3],” Clarke said. “I think we’ve made leaps and bounds of progress up front. We’ve learned to play with each other and play off one another. I think that playing with a three front is really working for us. I think we’ve just been improving every game — learning to play together, getting chances and things like that.”
Since the Tigers started playing with three forwards, Clarke has scored three goals and two assists. Baucom has led the team over the span with four goals and two assists.
Brian’s decision to move Megan from left back to left forward added a true left-footed threat to the left flank.
“Since we pushed [Megan] up front on the left side, that kind of gives us two wingers,” Brian said. “And a real leftie where everyone else … is right footed. Megan has changed the game a lot on the left. Jorian is doing really, really well at center forward.”
The change in formation has given the Tigers more structure up front, allowing them to take full advantage of their dynamic attacking players.
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.