After winning its first Southeastern Conference game on Friday against Mississippi State, the LSU soccer team (5-7-2, 1-3-1 SEC) took a step backwards against No. 20 South Carolina (9-3-1, 2-2-1 SEC) with a 0-1 loss Sunday afternoon.
South Carolina’s sophomore forward Daija Griffin scored the only goal of the game during a chaotic scramble for the ball following a corner. LSU’s freshman keeper Lily Alfeld blocked the initial shot, but was caught behind several Gamecocks making it difficult for Alfeld to find room to make a play on a second shot.
“Certainly, their goal was very disputable,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “I haven’t seen the tape yet, but our kids were fairly adamant that there was a foul on Lily after she had caught the ball. But everybody makes mistakes. Coaches don’t play a perfect game. Players don’t play a perfect game and sometimes neither do officials. You just have to deal with it and move on.
Despite allowing in the one goal, the Tigers’ defense held the Gamecocks to only three shots on target out of 16 shots.
“They were really strong back there, and I think that was one of the best games they’ve played,” said sophomore forward Summer Clarke. “There were a lot of balls kicked in back there, and the back line kept heading them out.”
LSU’s defenders combined for four blocked shots and even added on a team save in the 62nd minute.
“I thought the back line did really well just keeping [South Carolina] outside and limiting their chances,” said LSU defender/forward Megan Lee. “Our whole team was pleased with how the back line performed.”
Although the defense kept the Tigers in the game, LSU’s offense struggled to create and convert quality opportunities on frame.
For the first time since the game against Rice on Aug. 31, the Tigers managed to aim only one shot accurately on frame. LSU’s four shots are fewest shots taken in a game by the Tigers’ this season.
South Carolina’s defense controlled the midfield, which made it very difficult for the Tigers’ center midfielders and forwards to distribute the ball and create space for each other to work.
“They were really organized in the midfield, which affected the balls we were hitting up front,” Clarke said. “We did get around them a few times, but they were really organized in and around the box. So when we did get crosses, they were there to clear it a lot. They were just a really organized team, which I think held us up a little bit.”
The Tigers look to improve their record and their ranking in the SEC on Thursday night against Alabama in the LSU Soccer Stadium.
“It was just unlucky that the win didn’t go our way this time,” Megan said. “Now we have to refocus for the next game, and we have to win a couple in a row now.”