In soccer, the numbers don’t lie. The problem is, they’re hardly there at all.
While baseball has developed increasingly complex statistical measures to evaluate player performance, the world’s most popular game largely remains in the information wilderness, relying primarily on goals and assists for strikers and goals allowed for defenders.
The absence of advanced measurements hides the true value of players like sophomore midfielder Natalie Ieyoub.
Ieyoub, who plays out wide when the team uses four midfielders, has registered just two shots on goal all season, but LSU coach Brian Lee said her impact can’t be quantified by traditional standards of achievement.
“If you look at our positive attacking plays, she’s not always on the last pass or scoring the goal,” Lee said. “But she’s often winning the possession for us and then keeping it on the first pass.”
Perhaps the biggest compliment to Ieyoub is the consistent success of teams on which she plays.
Ieyoub was a state champion in three different sports — soccer, cross country and track and field — and also won a state championship on her club soccer team at St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles.
As a freshman at LSU, Ieyoub played in 14 matches before sustaining a season-ending ACL injury. The Tigers put together the most successful season in school history, narrowly missing out on the Southeastern Conference championship.
However, she wasn’t able to enjoy LSU’s postseason run from the field, instead watching from the sideline after having surgery in November to repair her knee.
“That was the first time I’ve ever had an injury that sidelined me, so it was pretty tough mentally to overcome,” Ieyoub said. “I learned a lot of things having to watch from the sideline.”
When asked about her contribution to the team, Ieyoub shifts into modesty mode, offering a quick response.
“My teammates tell me I’m composed, so I guess I bring that,” she said.
Lee is more effusive when talking about how Ieyoub impacts the game both on and off the field. He singled her out for the poise she shows in starting LSU attacks and stopping those of the opposing team.
“Natalie’s got a very calming influence on the field,” he said. “From a pure soccer standpoint, she’s nice and calm on the ball. She brings all the intangibles, and her work rate is great.”
However, Lee said the midfielder’s best work will come when she has a healthy offseason to further develop.
“We’re really excited for her to have nine months to get after it once this season ends,” Lee said. “I think she’ll make monumental gains given her work ethic.”
—-
Contact Ryan Ginn at [email protected]