LSU sophomore forward Rachel Yepez’s method to improving her game came in a way most would not think of – watching TV.
Yepez scored four goals in an 11-goal outburst this weekend during LSU’s sweep of Memphis and Miami at the 2007 Long’s Electronics Samford Classic in Birmingham, Ala.
Coming into the weekend, Yepez had not scored this season and had only five goals during her freshman campaign. The Fayetteville, N.C., native said she credits her new-found success to something she saw while staring at the tube.
“I’ve spent a lot of time watching film and talking to the coaches, and I get myself into trouble when I hold the ball too long and make too many dribbles,” Yepez said in a news release. “I did a better job of dropping [the ball] off to the midfield and opening it up for my teammates.”
In LSU’s first contest, the Tigers defeated Memphis 7-2 thanks in part to a dominant offensive onslaught that saw 10 of the Tigers’ 14 shots recorded on goal.
Yepez recorded her first hat trick of her career in the victory, scoring during the 17th, 31st and 76th minutes in the Tigers’ win.
LSU opened Thursday’s match with early goals much like they did in the team’s previous match Sept. 2 against Louisiana Tech, jumping ahead early to take a 4-1 halftime lead.
Sophomore midfielder Malorie Rutledge and junior forward Roslyn Jones also scored in the first half for the Tigers.
Sophomore forward Michelle Makasini scored in the 53rd and 60th minutes to nearly match her teammates’ effort.
“We did something [Thursday night] that we did not do as well in our first two games, and that is finishing our chances,” LSU coach Brian Lee said in a news release. “Our serves were much better, and our ball movement gave us some great opportunities to put some goals on the board in the flow of play.”
With the win Thursday night, LSU extended its undefeated streak to five games dating back to this past season.
The streak quickly extended to six games after Saturday’s 4-1 win against Miami.
Yepez struck early again for LSU, scoring from the left side of the penalty area in the fifth minute to give LSU an early 1-0 lead.
Sophomore midfielder Melissa Clarke extended LSU’s lead to 2-0 in the 13th minute, connecting from the top of the penalty box.
Freshman midfielder Taryne Boudreau and Jones scored for the Tigers in the second half to keep the Hurricanes at arms length.
“This was a big step in the right direction for our club, but we’re still a work in progress,” Lee said in a news release. “There are a number of things we need to clean up if we hope to challenge the top teams in our league once SEC play starts. But this was a big weekend for our postseason hopes.”
LSU returns to action Friday at 7 p.m. against McNeese State at the LSU Soccer Complex.
The Tigers then travel Sept. 16 to Texas to take on the University of Houston.
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]