There are almost twice as many freshmen as juniors and seniors combined on the LSU soccer team, but the upperclassmen were the ones who stood out Sunday afternoon.
The veterans jump started the Tigers in the second half after a slow start to beat McNeese State, 2-0, in a priority point game at the LSU Soccer Complex.
“I didn’t think we were great by any stretch,” said LSU coach Brian Lee.
After a scoreless first half, the Tigers (3-4-1) outlasted and outworked the exhausted Cowgirls (2-7) in the second half.
“We just attacked with a little more urgency in the second half,” Lee said. “In the first half we were contesting the ball in their end, but there was no real dynamic, ‘Hey, we’ve got to score.'”
Senior forward Courtney Alexander buried a left-footed goal in the box on a cross from freshman forward Addie Eggleston to put the Tigers up, 1-0. Alexander had multiple scoring opportunities in the first half before finding the net in the 54th minute.
“Eventually getting the first goal was really big,” Lee said.
Alexander, who has played defender and forward this season, said she needs to work on her shooting if she’s going to be used in attack more often. She finished with five shots, including two on goal.
“It’s definitely a different mental mindset to come in and switch the offensive mode on from the defensive mode,” Alexander said. “It’ll take a little getting used to.”
Less than 20 minutes after Alexander’s goal, junior defender Allysha Chapman passed a through ball half the length of the field to junior midfielder Natalie Martineau, who beat her defender and went around the goalkeeper for the final score.
“Mart just sprinted and made a really nice run, like half the field to get across,” Chapman said. “I knew if I played it to her straight through she’d be on a breakaway.”
Chapman, who pestered the Cowgirls all game, said her       energy level is contagious.
“I bring the energy level up with my tackles and my runs, and people feed off your energy,” Chapman said.
Lee said Martineau’s composure was crucial after she got around the goalie.
“She’s been putting herself in great spots against everybody and just not finishing off the deal,” Lee said.
LSU junior goalie Mo Isom shut out the Cowgirls without blocking a single shot. McNeese State’s only solid opportunity came with 25 minutes remaining on a corner kick, but the Cowgirls couldn’t convert.
“McNeese did a really good job of slowing the game down and trying to shorten the game,” Lee said. “At halftime, certainly that goal was achieved.”
Sophomore forward Carlie Banks notched seven shots, including four on goal, but they were all turned aside. The Tigers outshot the Cowgirls, 23-3.
LSU didn’t have the same fortune on Friday night at Illinois, falling, 1-0, after a late penalty kick score from the Fighting Illini.
Illinois senior defender Krystin Miller scored after an Illinois player was taken down in the box in the 84th minute.
LSU freshman goalie Megan Kinneman recorded her second career start in the game, saving eight shots. Kinneman is battling for playing time with Isom, the Tigers’ primary goalie who set LSU records for wins (15) and shutouts (12) last season.
“If Megan keeps the same direction going in practice that she has now, then for the foreseeable future I think they’ll be splitting games,” Lee said.
Illinois (7-1) held an 18-8 shot advantage against the Tigers in the game.
 
 
 
—
Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]