Two steps forward, one step back.
 
Three days after playing its most impressive game of the year, the LSU soccer team struggled to a 1-0 win against Louisiana-Lafayette (4-4-0), delivering a shaky performance dotted with miscues.
 
The Tigers (2-3-1) looked well on their way to a second convincing home win in as many opportunities when sophomore forward Carlie Banks headed in a Courtney Alexander free kick less than 20 minutes into the first half.
 
However, they were undone by wasted chances and sloppy play for the remaining 70 minutes, often leaving LSU coach Brian Lee exasperated on the sidelines.
 
“I thought we played pretty poorly, honestly,” Lee said. “You don’t ever scoff at a win, but that’s our worst performance of the year.”
 
The Tigers pressed forward in the second half, playing with the urgency of a team down a goal rather than ahead. Despite nine second-half shots, none got past ULL goalkeeper Amanda Moorefield.
 
Although no players were immune to struggles, freshmen forwards Amy Porter and Addie Eggleston notably failed to convert golden opportunities in thesecond half that would have put the game away.
 
“The mental and physical preparation from too many of the kids just isn’t good enough for this level,” Lee said.
LSU will need more consistent play up top after losing freshman forward Kaley Blades to a season-ending injury against Virginia Tech a week ago.
 
Ironically, it was a freshman who bailed out the Tigers on multiple occasions.
 
LSU leaned on an unfamiliar face — freshman goalkeeper Megan Kinneman, who made four critical saves after LSU coaches gave junior goalkeeper Mo Isom  the day off for the first time in her college career.  
 
“All day I was just jumping around really excited to play,” Kinneman said. “We’re not too happy with how we played, but I had to stay focused to make sure that we stayed in it.”
 
LSU will finish off non-conference play in the coming week, including a road game against Illinois that gives the Tigers one more opportunity for a quality win before beginning play in the Southeastern Conference.
 
 
 
 
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Contact Ryan Ginn at [email protected].