An antique expression coaches use in every team sport in the world is a phrase the No. 24 LSU back line has taken to heart: Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.
LSU (7-1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) allowed 11 goals in its first 10 games this year. At this point last year, the Tigers conceded 14 goals. The last time the Tigers allowed only 11 goals or fewer in their first 10 games of the season, they won the SEC West. The Tigers’ improved defense led them to seven wins through the first half of the season.
LSU switched goalkeepers before the start of the season and is reaping the benefits. Senior goalie Catalina Rubiano stepped in for sophomore Lily Alfeld and provides solid defense for the Tigers. Rubiano earned three clean sheets, and she’s only given up multiple goals in a game twice.
The Tigers’ back line is making the goalie’s job easier this season by stopping would-be shots on goal from reaching the keeper. Opponents have only fired 40 shots-on-goal on 112 shot attempts.
Senior defender Alex Arlitt is leading the Tigers’ defense with her experienced and technical play. Arlitt, a fifth-year senior, is the most experienced player on LSU’s defense and started every game she’s appeared in. Rubiano said Arlitt’s presence on defense is important in maintaining stable communication with the back line.
“Communication is vital with a team that has really talented forwards who can run behind you easily,” Rubiano said. “It’s a matter of communicating with each other on who’s going where and who’s taking the mark.”
After Arlitt was assessed a red card during the previous game, LSU coach Brian Lee said his team’s performance against Duke without her gave him the confidence to make a tactical change to the team’s formation when it took on Marquette University on Sunday. Lee moved Arlitt from the back line to midfield to give the Tigers an advantage offensively.
“The Duke game really helped [my confidence] when Arlitt didn’t play,” Lee said. “I thought Meagan Lee, Alex Thomas and Jordane Carvery really stepped up against Duke. It gives us the opportunity to mix and match based on the other team’s strengths and weaknesses game to game.”
Arlitt said Megan was one of the players who took the initiative in replacing her as the communicator on the LSU back line against Marquette.
“Meagan did a really good job communicating,” Arlitt said. “After almost every goal that we scored, I looked back at them and tried to make sure they were staying tuned into the game and Meagan was the one that was clapping her hands, organizing everything.”
The LSU defense will be tasked with repeating its success in the second half of the season when it takes on some high-powered SEC offenses.