Recruiting in any sport is a calculated guessing game.
Some recruits will develop, and others will flatline. The greatest prize of all is a recruiting class that lives up to its hype, though it’s rare.
LSU soccer coach Brian Lee seems to have hit the jackpot for two straight years in two distinct ways.
Lee’s Tigers welcomed a No. 14 ranked recruiting class in 2013, according to AllWhiteKit.com, and a No. 7 class in 2014, as ranked by soccer recruiting service TopSoccerDrawer.com.
In 2013, Brian saw then-freshman forward Summer Clarke, defender Megan Lee and midfielder Emma Fletcher make Southeastern Conference history when they became the first three freshmen from a single team awarded All-SEC honors.
While the 2014 class does not have these accolades, the players have affected the Tigers from the first minute of the season — literally.
In LSU’s season opener against Troy, freshman forward Jorian Baucom scored her first goal 48 seconds into the game, the fastest goal scored in a season opener in program history.
“Well, when you say you want to start the season strong, that was very pleasing to see,” Brian said. “It’s good for Jorian to get on the score sheet that early.”
Baucom has followed the footsteps of Clarke and is now tied with Clarke with a team-leading five goals.
While Baucom flashes on the highlight reel and takes pressure off Clarke and other veteran attackers, the defensive additions of midfielder Christyna Pitre, defenders Alexis Urch and Jordane Carvery and keeper Lily Alfeld have changed the physical identity of the team.
In 2013, the Tigers struggled with the physical play in the SEC. They were not able to compete with the taller, stronger teams like Florida, because they did not have the height in the center to control balls in the air.
“Pitre, Carvery, Alexis Urch and Jorian Baucom [were recruited for their] just their flat size and strength and ability to win fifty-fifties in the air and on the ground, which was a major weakness for us in SEC games last year,” Brian said. “Hopefully, they will be able to hit the ground running and solve that problem and more.”
The physical presence these freshmen bring has contributed on both ends of the pitch. The freshmen class has six assists so far this season, led by Baucom and Pitre who have two each.
The trio’s height also creates more opportunities for goals on set pieces. Carvery, the tallest player on the roster at 5 feet 11 inches has eight shots, which have mostly come off of set pieces.
“[Junior midfielder] Natalia [Gomez-Junco] and Emma can put the ball where it needs to be, but for the first time we have players who can head it in or head it out,” Brian said. “Carvery, Urch and Pitre that’s a pretty imposing line of kids challenging headers.”
From early in the season, Carvery and Urch have stepped into leading roles as center defenders.
“I’m very pleased with how we are defending teams when the ball is in play and in motion,” Brian said. “We are not giving up that many quality chances. I think they are really gelling well. The Urch and Carvery [duo] at center back has really come a long way since the first game.”
Throughout the season, the freshmen have improved every game despite the loss of LSU’s only senior — midfielder Alex Arlitt, who returned against Missouri on Sept. 19 after missing six games with an ankle injury.
“From the beginning, I think my favorite thing about all of them has been their coachability,” Brian said. “They have made mistakes like anybody would make, but when we get a chance to point them out — they fix them. Their mistakes haven’t happened twice. It’s a really impressive trait of that whole group.”