LSU’s 1-0 victory over No. 15 Duke University on Sunday marked its 10th victory over a nationally-ranked opponent in program history.
The last time the Tigers (5-1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) took down a ranked opponent was on Sept. 8, 2013, when they beat the No. 13 University of Southern California, 1-0, in the Minnesota Gold Classic.
LSU has a history of struggling against ranked opponents, but since Brian Lee took over the program in 2004, the Tigers have steadily improved. Nine of LSU’s 10 wins against ranked teams came after Lee took over the program in 2005.
Good defense is a reoccurring theme when it comes to beating ranked opponents. The Tigers have held their opponents to one goal or less in all of their wins against ranked teams. Almost all ranked opponents are equipped with a dangerous offensive attack, which is what makes them so effective, but Lee harps on playing stout defense.
Luckily for the Tigers, they too have players who have the ability to score with ease. LSU is led by junior forward Summer Clarke and sophomore forward Jorian Baucom. The two have combined for 12 goals and four assists through the team’s first eight games of the season. They both are expected to make key contributions when LSU faces ranked opponents late in the season, Lee said.
Lee said he was pleased with how his team performed against Duke, the team’s first ranked opponent of the season and was happy with the way his team competed against all opponents — ranked or unranked.
“The take away from the whole preseason is on our day we’re really good,” Lee said. “Certainly, we can beat any team in the country on a given day. We just have to make sure we bring the same focus and intensity as many times as possible. During a college season, you have to gain momentum and build off games, and we’re doing that really well.”
The Tigers will be tasked with facing talented ranked teams in the immediate future due to starting conference play. LSU is scheduled to take on No. 9 Auburn University on Sept. 25 and No. 10 Florida University on Oct. 11. The Tigers will also face the currently-unranked Kentucky Wildcats, who received 14 ranked votes from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Playing high-ranked opponents can be a daunting task, but Lee said his team looks forward to those opportunities because it gives them extra motivation.
“We always want prepare the same for each game,” Lee said. “Certainly, when you see a ranking in front of a team, it probably adds excitement for the kids. Traditionally, our group tends to relish the occasion, and they did that on Sunday [against Duke].”