For most people, Sunday is the dreaded day before the start of a new week, but for the LSU soccer team, it’s the most successful.
LSU is 4-0 at home on Sunday afternoons through its first 10 games this season.
Last year, the Tigers only won five games all year — none of which came on Sunday — but this year is different. LSU (7-1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) has only given up one goal in its four Sunday matches, and the Tigers have outscored opponents 11-1, in 360 minutes of play.
The Tigers’ success on Sunday stems from the play of their dynamic duo up front. Junior forward Summer Clarke and sophomore forward Jorian Baucom have scored in every Sunday afternoon match this season, and the two have scored all but one of the team’s goals and combined for three assists. Baucom said her chemistry with Clarke gives the team an advantage.
“[Chemistry] improves with each game,” Baucom said. “We’re constantly working on it at practice. This preseason is ultimately the main reason why we have such strong chemistry. I think we’ve come to the point where we know each other’s strengths and how to utilize them on the field. I know Summer needs through balls because she has speed and can make it there.”
LSU played stiff competition in its four Sundays — Duke, Marquette, Indiana and Minnesota. The Tigers were tested against all four teams, but they gutted out a victory each time. LSU coach Brian Lee said he wanted the games to mimic the team’s unforgiving SEC schedule, and it was a success.
“The nonconference schedule we put together was designed to play like an SEC season,” Lee said. “Indiana, Minnesota, Duke and Marquette are all good programs that might be in the NCAA tournament come year-end. I think we’re prepped for SEC play.”
The Tigers already beat Marquette and Duke, both who beat them in Sunday matches last season. LSU played from behind for the majority of both games they played against Marquette and Duke last year but were not able to stage a comeback.
This time, the Tigers were faced with a 1-0 deficit early in the first half against Marquette but countered with five unanswered goals to win the game. LSU managed to net its first goal of the Sunday afternoon game when it was down a starter after Baucom sprained her ankle early in the game. Baucom said seeing her team fight to come back from an early deficit on a scorching afternoon motivated her to re-enter the game and net two goals of her own.
“It just comes down to heart,” Baucom said. “I knew my team needed me, and I just had to buckle down and play through that injury. Being able to see them play with a player down for at least 10 minutes was incredible.”
Lee said his team’s conditioning level had a direct effect on its success on Sunday.
“For one, we’re fit, so we can focus more [on Sundays],” Lee said after the team’s win against Marquette on Sunday. “Today was the hottest Sunday of the year, so it was the biggest test. We competed hard the entire 90 minutes.”