The LSU men’s club soccer team earned a bid to compete in the National Campus Championship Series for the first time in the 19-year history of the tournament.
Offensive balance and a stifling defense have been key for the Tigers as 13 different players have tallied up their 24 total goals this year.
The Tigers’ defensive success lies in their use of 4-5-1 formation, which focuses on ball control and defense while also allowing for quick counter-attacks. Behind the 4-5-1 formation, the Tigers have only yielded four goals to their opponents en route to a 9-1-1 record.
“No other team has really dominated us yet, and the results show,” said senior captain June No.
The club earned a bid to play in the National Campus Championship Series in Memphis, Tenn., from Nov. 15 to 17, after winning the Region IV South Tournament last weekend.
LSU kicked off group play at regionals with a 4-0 drubbing of Sam Houston State before suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Southern Methodist University by a score of 1-2. With the pressure turned up, the Tigers downed Texas Tech 2-0 in a single elimination game.
The Tigers moved on to the automatic bid game against the University of Texas, where they won a 2-1 battle against the perennial powerhouse Longhorns.
“We might have been underdogs in [that] game, but we definitely played like the favorites for a good chunk of the game,” No said. “Our early goal, which came inside the first 10 minutes in the first half, helped us a lot. In the second half, we became more defensive, but our players hung in there strong and held on to the victory.”
The victory against Texas marks the first time the LSU men’s club soccer team has earned an automatic bid to the national tournament, and it offers consolation from the heartbreak suffered at recent regional tournaments.
“It felt like we were finally receiving the reward we deserved for all of our hard work,” said senior midfielder Christian Washington. “It was difficult losing to Texas in the finals two years ago, so it felt great to beat them in the finals this year.”
Players said the main focus heading into nationals will be capitalizing on the offensive side of the ball, especially in transition.
“The biggest thing we need to work on is keeping the ball in the attacking third,” said senior midfielder John Brodt. “… Playing defense for 40 minutes like we did against Texas is exhausting, and holding onto the ball would give us a break.”
Though the national tournament won’t begin for another two weeks, the chance to bring home a national championship has excitement surrounding the program.
“It is quite an accomplishment for our players,” No said. “This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. … We are really looking forward to having fun, but we also accept the challenge [to] compete against the better teams and possibly shock the soccer nation by winning it all.”
