Freshman goalkeeper Megan Kinneman is doing something no other Tiger could do the last two years.
She is challenging junior goalkeeper Mo Isom, who set single-season LSU records for wins (15), shutouts (12) and goals against average (.72) last year, for playing time.
Kinneman was ranked as the No. 9 goalkeeper in the country coming into Baton Rouge, and she hasn’t disappointed. The Missouri City, Texas, native has allowed only two goals in three games and has stopped more than 90 percent of opponents’ shots on goal.
She is providing a goalie battle Isom wasn’t accustomed to in her previous two seasons at LSU.
Former Tiger goalie Hannah Linzay made only two appearances last year as Isom enjoyed her record-breaking season. Isom played every minute in goal during her freshman season in 2008.
Kinneman has only started three games to Isom’s seven, but LSU coach Brian Lee has been rotating the two goalies the last three weekends.
“It’s definitely a fight every practice, and I think the switching off has worked well,” Isom said.
Isom said the lack of competition in years past allowed her to be complacent at times. She said practicing and training with Kinneman has made her a better goalie.
“That nervousness and drive due to the competition has improved my game to where I feel like I’m the best goalkeeper I’ve ever been right now,” Isom said.
The relationship seems to be mutually beneficial. Kinneman said Isom’s leadership and veteran presence have been valuable as she grows accustomed to college soccer.
“Mo is awesome,” Kinneman said. “I’ve been training with her, and she’s helped me become so much better. We just push each other.”
Isom said she and Kinneman provide balance for the Tigers. She said she is better against teams that prefer to cross the ball and Kinneman is better against quicker teams.
“I think we’re both solid keepers across the board,” Isom said. “But she’s excellent at certain things that I’m weaker at, and I’m excellent at certain things she may be weaker at.”
Lee said how the two practice and how they perform in games will determine the goalies’ playing time in the near future.
The intense competition on the field hasn’t created bad tempers between the goalies off the field.
“What I’ve done for her she’s equally done back for me,” Isom said. “We have incredible chemistry, and we get along great which is a huge factor.”
Kinneman, who is 1-1-1 this season after games against Tennessee, Illinois and Louisiana-Lafayette, said she didn’t expect to play her freshman season. Lee said in the preseason he had planned to redshirt Kinneman this season.
“I thought that was the plan at the beginning, so I just came in and wanted to work as hard as I could and push Mo as much as I could,” Kinneman said.
Isom said Kinneman performed well in her first few starts.
“I feel total confidence when she steps into the game,” Isom said. “She’s just a great player overall on the team.”
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected].