For LSU soccer coach Brian Lee, 2008 will serve as one more brick in a rapidly developing construction job.LSU finished the 2003 and 2004 seasons last in the Southeastern Conference prior to Lee’s arrival. Four seasons later, the Tigers are coming off back-to-back SEC Western Division titles and finished 2008 with a best-ever No. 2 conference ranking.”We’re satisfied and happy with the progress,” Lee said. “We reached the top 25 and spent some time in the top 10. Finishing second in the SEC is a big step as well.”The Tigers also advanced to the NCAA tournament for only the second time in 2008. Following a second round appearance in 2007, LSU qualified for the second-consecutive season before falling, 3-2, to Washington in the opening round.”Probably the only disappointment is the early exit,” Lee said. “It never really goes away. We want this program to compete in the Final Four. It was a tough game against Washington, and it will be great motivation for the next eight months.”The Tigers’ groundbreaking regular season somewhat offsets the early exit. LSU spent 11-straight weeks ranked in at least one poll and achieved a best-ever ranking of No. 9 on the way to a 14-4-2 record. LSU entered the SEC tournament as the No. 2 seed, its highest in history.A big factor in the Tigers’ success was the emergence of junior midfielder Malorie Rutledge.Rutledge led the conference in scoring with nine goals and 18 assists, giving her 36 points on the season. Her efforts earned her first team All-SEC and second team All-American honors.At season’s end, Rutledge was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year — the first LSU player to earn the award.Senior forward Roslyn Jones finished her LSU career with another personal best in scoring. Jones finished 2007 as the team’s most dynamic scoring threat with seven goals. In her final collegiate season ,she eclipsed that mark, tying Rutledge as the Tigers’ leading scorer with nine goals.”It’s absolutely great producing for my team,” Jones said. “I would have liked to see my team get further, but this is another learning season for the girls.”Veterans weren’t the only ones making an impact on the 2008 season. The early arrival of freshman goalkeeper Mo Isom in the spring proved to pay dividends in the Tigers’ season.Isom started at keeper in all of LSU’s games. She shut out seven opponents and amassed 74 saves with just 17 goals allowed. Isom also added a 93-yard goal, her only score of the season, from her own penalty box in a 4-1 win against BYU.The Tigers now turn their attention to 2009. Lee and his staff plan to recruit through the Christmas holidays, and the team begins its spring schedule next semester. LSU has played a rigorous spring schedule during Lee’s tenure, and 2009 promises to be no different, with exhibitions against Texas and Texas A&M.The 2008 team loses just three seniors — Jones, midfielder Casey Crawford and goalkeeper Jackie Moseley and returns nine of 11 starters.The Tigers also gain two key players who sat out the 2008 season. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Taryn Boudreau will return to the team after a trip to the FIFA U-20 World Cup during the fall, and former Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year Courtney Alexander will be eligible to play after sitting out a season following her transfer from Southeast Missouri State.If these are any indicators, 2008 won’t be the Tigers’ last trip to the top 10.”It’s no fluke. This program has improved tremendously since I got here,” Jones said. “[Lee] is not going to settle for anything but a great program, especially here at LSU.”—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]