Throughout the season, LSU soccer coach Brian Lee has used each game as a benchmark to prepare his team for a strenuous Southeastern Conference schedule.
This weekend, Lee will get an accurate assessment of where his team stands when the Tigers (7-1-3, 1-0-1) take on No. 9 Tennessee (7-1-1, 2-0-0) and No. 21 Georgia (9-1-0, 2-0-0) at the LSU Soccer Complex.
The Tigers come into the weekend following a 1-0 victory over Mississippi State and a 1-1 tie against Ole Miss this past weekend.
Sophomore Michelle Makasini and junior Roslyn Jones scored the Tigers two goals in the first conference weekend of the season.
Lee said LSU is preparing for a difficult match Friday night against one of the best teams in the country.
“We know we’re going to get a great effort from Tennessee tomorrow night,” Lee said. “[Tennessee coach] Angela Kelly has built that program into a perennial power in the SEC, and she has a great team again this year.”
The Volunteers have been a defensive powerhouse this season, defeating four nationally ranked opponents, giving up less than a goal a game for the year.
Tennessee did showcase an offensive attack this past weekend led by junior midfielder Kylee Rossi, who is the reigning SEC Player of the Week and this past season’s Player of the Year.
Rossi leads the Volunteers with four goals and 10 total points this season.
Friday’s game is also a student priority point match, something Lee said he looks forward to.
“There’s going to be a huge crowd as long as the weather holds out, and hopefully we’ll set a new attendance record yet again. You can’t beat the atmosphere at the Soccer Complex on a Friday night,” Lee said.
The Bulldogs got into the top-25 for the first time this season after defeating ranked opponents Florida and South Carolina this past weekend to extend their winning streak to five games.
Like the Volunteers, Georgia has been led by defense with sophomore goalie Michelle Betos recording three shutouts in her 10 starts in net this season.
“What is most impressive to me is the fact that after 11 games, we can count the number of goals we have given up on one hand,” Georgia coach Patrick Baker said in a news release.
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]