The best team in the LSU soccer program’s history was full of senior leaders who are now set to embark on different career paths as their time in Baton Rouge winds down.The Tigers had a losing record before the current seniors arrived in 2006. Since that class began donning purple and gold, the team progressively did better each season in terms of wins and turned LSU into a top-25 national program.LSU’s senior class set a school record by breaking the 50-win career mark, and the Tigers tied a school single-season record with 15 wins.LSU coach Brian Lee said the seniors are largely responsible for turning the LSU soccer program into a national powerhouse. The seniors were visibly disappointed following an emotional 4-2 shootout loss to Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA tournament. But their futures look bright as they begin new chapters in their lives after finishing careers at LSU. Two-time Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year Malorie Rutledge is one of the sure bets to continue her soccer career.”The [professional] draft is in January, so hopefully I’ll enter that, and I’ll take the next semester off and play in the Women’s Pro League,” Rutledge said. “Then I’ll come back and finish my last semester in the fall.” Rutledge led the Tigers in goals and assists for the second straight season with 13 and 12, respectively.”These four years have been a great experience,” Rutledge said. “I think our senior class has grown and matured so much since our freshman year.”Lee said Rutledge and Melissa Clarke are the team’s most likely candidates for the draft, but Rachel Yepez and Chelsea Potts could have the same opportunity. Yepez said she would love to keep playing, despite being plagued by an ankle injury toward the end of the season. “If I do want to play, I’ve got to get my ankle better,” she said.Yepez said she would play wherever possible if the ankle heals to her satisfaction. “There’s always overseas,” she said. “I’d like to continue to play — I’m just not sure where. If I can make a team here, that would be great.” Other Tigers plan to pursue careers off the field. Katherine Lagow said she will start a law career after she graduates in May.”I’m applying right now to a bunch of different law schools,” she said. “Hopefully, I’ll be going to LSU — that’s my first choice.” The Plano, Texas native said she is also looking at schools closer to home such as Southern Methodist and Texas. Lagow has been a member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll every year at LSU.Nikki Bush plans to reverse roles by going from student to teacher.”I plan on graduating next December and starting a teacher’s program the following summer for Teach for America,” Bush said. “It’s a summer program for eight weeks, and I learn and go to classrooms, and I just kind of shadow for teachers. Then I start teaching in the fall.” The Tigers say goodbye to eight seniors and six consistent starters, but Lee expects LSU to continue the winning tradition next season.”We’re extremely excited about the future with some of the kids already in the program and the ones that are coming,” Lee said. “I think we will do more in the NCAA tournament in coming years, and the seniors deserve a lot of credit for getting us to this point.”—-Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]