The LSU soccer team spent its spring break on the Gulf Coast, but the Tigers were concluding their spring season on the pitch rather than enjoying the beach.
After winning the Southeastern Conference Western Division last fall, the Tigers continued to impress by posting a 2-1-1 spring record.
LSU took down Division II power West Florida, 3-0, on Saturday and played South Alabama to a scoreless tie in Mobile, Ala., last Wednesday.
“It was a more relaxing time than usual,” said LSU coach Brian Lee.
He might as well be talking about the Tigers’ spring. It was a quiet portion for LSU, who is replacing leading scorer Taryne Boudreau and starting goalkeeper Mo Isom.
The Tigers’ goal differential in the spring was plus-eight, spurred by three shutouts in four matches.
That stingy defense is led by former All-SEC freshman Megan Kinneman, who was benched last season for Isom, but is still considered one of the league’s premier keepers heading into her junior season.
“She assumed a leadership role this spring that will make our team better,” Lee said. “Megan’s talented enough to contend for All-SEC and All-American honors next fall.”
The Tigers defeated Nicholls, 5-0, last month and lost, 2-0, at Texas Tech.
But Lee said spring’s results aren’t as important as individual player development and singled out rising sophomores Alex Arlitt and Kaley Blades as the season’s standouts.
“You make the biggest improvement between your freshman and sophomore seasons, and Alex is in that process right now,” Lee said. “We’re going to rely on Kaley in the attacking third next year to be one of our best scorers. She showed positive signs there.”
With the new 14-team SEC and a difficult schedule awaiting LSU next fall, Lee said the Tigers need to improve their midfielding consistency, which lacked this spring.
“We still have a young team, so they’re continuing to familiarize themselves with playing together,” Lee said. “That’ll turn into maturity and a comfort level on the field by the fall.”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]