In a season marred by a lack of goals, the LSU soccer team took out its anger against Mississippi State on Sunday.
 
After being shut out in a 0-0 tie against Ole Miss (5-8-4, 1-4-3) on Friday, the Tiger offense let loose against the Bulldogs (7-10, 0-8), as five Tigers scored in a 6-2 victory.
 
Sophomore forward Reyna Lubin led the LSU attack off the bench with two goals and an assist.
 
LSU (6-6-4, 3-2-3) held an early 1-0 lead after senior forward Courtney Alexander put the Tigers ahead in the fourth minute following a Bulldog turnover.
 
Alexander led the Tigers with a whopping eight shots. LSU had 30 shots on the day, while Mississippi State only mustered 10.
 
The Bulldogs’ only shot in the first half went for a goal as freshman forward Elisabeth Sullivan slipped behind the Tiger defense for the score.
 
“They’re dangerous on the break, and they’ve got two or three really fast kids,” said LSU coach Brian Lee of Mississippi State.
 
Lubin put the the Tigers on top again, 2-1, in the 45th minute when she redirected a pass in the box from freshman forward Nina Anderson.
 
The Tigers poured it on late, scoring four of their six goals in the second half.
 
Lubin scored her second goal in the 68th minute, four minutes after junior midfielder Taryne Boudreau scored on a free kick at the top of the box.
 
Sophomore forward Carlie Banks put the Tigers up, 5-1, and freshman forward Danielle Murphy scored her first goal of the season to give LSU a 6-1 lead.
 
“Reyna and Nina Anderson and Danielle Murphy did a good job when they got in there of staying composed,” Lee said. “Mississippi State really wore down.”
 
The Bulldogs added the final goal of the match in the 88th minute.
The Tigers, who are fifth in the Southeastern Conference but lead the SEC West, won for the first time after allowing multiple goals in a game.
 
Sunday afternoon also marked the first time LSU freshman goalkeeper Megan Kinneman allowed multiple goals all season.
It was a different story for Kinneman.
 
Kinneman saved all seven Rebel shots on goal, but LSU tied Ole Miss, 0-0, failing to score a goal for the eighth time this       season.
Lee said Kinneman was phenomenal Friday night and the two goals she allowed Sunday were difficult to stop.
 
“I thought the whole weekend she did really well,” Lee said. “She made a couple great saves on Friday night.”
 
LSU’s scoreless performance wasn’t because of a lack of chances.
 
The Tigers outshot Ole Miss, 18-12, and had 14 shots on goal to the Rebels’ seven. LSU had seven shots on goal after the first half alone.
Banks led the Tigers with five shots, four of which were on goal.
 
The Tigers host the Florida Gators on Thursday.
 
 
 
____
Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]