Few teams have entered the LSU Soccer Stadium in recent years and left the Tigers or LSU coach Brian Lee visibly frustrated. North Carolina State sophomore goalkeeper Victoria Hopkins made sure the Wolfpack did that Sunday, swatting and swiping LSU (1-1-1) shots out of the goal to spur a 2-1 NC State win, and she did it on one good ankle. Two Tiger defensive breakdowns led to a pair of goals, as the Wolfpack (2-2) overcame an early deficit, and Hopkins saved the day down the stretch against a rabid LSU rally. “Victoria sprained her ankle in warm-ups, but she had to gut it out since our backup has a finger issue,” said NC State coach Steve Stringthorpe. “She was top notch today.” The loss wrapped up a disappointing home debut for the Tigers, who also played Rice to a 1-1 draw in double overtime Friday night. LSU entered the weekend with a 33-5-7 mark at home since the start of 2007. The Wolfpack win sealed the Tigers’ first two-game winless streak on home turf since October 2007. “This has to be a learning experience for us,” said LSU sophomore defender Jodi Calloway. “We know how much of an advantage [home field] usually is. It was really disappointing not to defend that.” Despite playing two double-overtime matches within six days of Sunday’s match, the Tigers looked like the fresher team against NC State and grabbed the early advantage. LSU junior midfielder Nina Anderson stole a pass near the center stripe in the 28th minute and dribbled down the left side before reversing directions and sending a low cross to senior forward Carlie Banks, who snaked a left-footer past Hopkins from 14 yards out. But the Tigers’ momentum quickly evaporated in the sticky midafternoon heat. State sophomore Shelli Spamer saw LSU’s backline out of position 10 minutes later and arched a 40-yard shot at Tiger goalkeeper Megan Kinneman. Kinneman made the save, but it ricocheted off the crossbar and Wolfpack freshman Shannon Colligan cleaned up the putback after outracing a lethargic LSU defense to the ball. “We got caught flat-footed,” Lee said. “That play turned a game we were on the way to winning two, three to nil and made it a toss-up.” Another Tiger defensive gaffe in the 52nd minute sparked NC State’s second goal. Wolfpack sophomore Jessica Baity lobbed a free kick into the penalty box, but LSU let the ball bounce, which allowed State forward Cheyenne Spade to loop in the game winner from five yards. “That was even more of a basic mistake than the first goal,” Lee said. “It’s Defending 101 that you can’t let a free kick create a chance like that.” From there, LSU poured on the pressure, but Hopkins never strained under it. The Tigers tallied four corner kicks in the final 40 minutes and failed to convert several more close-range opportunities to force a third straight overtime game. Hopkins officially earned six saves – all in dramatic fashion – but LSU’s best and final chance was out of her hands. With three seconds left, LSU freshman Fernanda Piña found the ball at her feet within the goalie box and the goal mostly clear. The moment was quickly lost. She slipped, failing to put a clean foot on the ball and providing an apt conclusion to what Lee called a “sloppy” weekend. “Our concentration wasn’t there,” Lee said. “The girls have to play mentally stronger than they showed the last few days.”
 
—- Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected].