The No. 15 LSU soccer team regained its swagger against Mississippi State on Sunday.After going 1-1-1 in their past three games leading into the match, the Tigers (10-3-3, 6-1-1) came out firing on all cylinders in a dominant 4-0 victory against the Bulldogs (8-6-2, 0-6-2).”The first half was great,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “It’s important to get out to a good start. We could have scored a bunch in the first half.”In the 11th minute, freshman forward Carlie Banks buried one in the back of the net, only to be followed a minute later by sophomore midfielder Taryne Boudreau’s left-footed goal.Both goals were assisted by senior midfielder Malorie Rutledge, who led Boudreau on a beautiful pass from the middle of the field right outside the box.”Obviously someone else is open if I have two [defenders] on me, so I’m just trying to find that open player,” Rutledge said.Banks tacked on another goal in the 22nd minute, and junior midfielder Courtney Alexander added her first goal of the year to give LSU an insurmountable 4-0 lead going into halftime.”Courtney Alexander keeps pitching in up front, and that’s an important thing from today,” Lee said. The second half lacked the excitement of the first as neither team scored. Senior Melissa Clarke had three shots on goal in the game but couldn’t find the back of the net.Mississippi State remains winless on the season in the Southeastern Conference, despite ties to two quality teams in South Carolina and Florida, who were No. 5 and No. 17 in the Soccer Times Top 25 poll entering this week.The 4-0 win made sophomore goalkeeper Mo Isom LSU’s all-time career shutout leader with 16.LSU’s offense wasn’t as marvelous in Friday’s match between No. 15 LSU and No. 21 Ole Miss (10-3-2, 4-1-2). The game ended in a 0-0 tie as neither team could muster an overtime goal. The Tigers dominated the overtime period, firing five shots to the Rebels’ one. But every overtime opportunity was thwarted.Rutledge fired a shot outside the box which got over the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm but rattled off the crossbar.Clarke later had an opportunity inside the box, but her shot was denied by sophomore Rebel goalkeeper Alley Ronaldi, who sprawled out to make the save.The Rebels’ only shot on goal came with 10 seconds remaining in the second overtime period. The Tigers outshot Ole Miss, 14-7, in the game.Lee said the chilly, windy conditions affected the game. The temperature started in the low 60s and reached the 50s.”A wind like that certainly affects tactics and mindsets of players,” Lee said.Isom said the wind can be especially meddlesome to a goalkeeper.”Just like rain is a great equalizer in soccer, so is wind,” she said. “I’m always more nervous in goal when the wind’s blowing hard at me because crazy things can happen.”The LSU defense has remained stellar. The Tigers have yet to give up more than one goal in an SEC game this season.”We’re staying organized, and we’re tackling when it’s appropriate to tackle, and we’re staying strong both mentally and physically,” Lee said.Senior forward Rachel Yepez was questionable going into the weekend with an ankle injury and did not play in either game.”It’s getting a lot better,” Yepez said. “I probably could have played, but it’s not 100 percent. I’m hoping to be 100 percent or at least close to it for Florida.”LSU travels to Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday to battle the Gators.”We’ve got the ultimate test on Thursday,” Lee said. “I think us and Florida are the best two attacking teams in the SEC, so the defending team that holds up better is probably going to win.”—-Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]