This one didn’t need penalty kicks.
Unlike the LSU soccer team’s close call with Texas A&M in the 2009 NCAA Tournament that required penalty kicks to anoint the Aggies as victors, Friday night’s first-round contest between the future conference rivals was almost never in doubt.
Third-seeded Texas A&M (16-5-2) stomped LSU, 4-0, in front of a raucous Ellis Field home crowd, ending the Tigers’ season for the second time in three years.
Aggie freshman phenom Kelley Monogue scored her 19th goal of the season in the ninth minute, and A&M piled on two second-half goals on corner kick sets in a two-minute span to cap off LSU’s miserable final month.
The Tigers (13-8-1) won the Southeastern Conference Western Division for the fourth time in five seasons but lost four of their last seven matches while being outscored, 14-3, in defeat.
LSU curiously started sophomore goalkeeper Megan Kinneman in place of senior stalwart Mo Isom, who had recorded eight shutouts in 19 starts this fall.
While the first three goals ultimately mar Kinneman’s sheet, the Aggie attack overwhelmed the Tiger back line in the defensive half, piling up 26 total shots and nine on goal — five of which Kinneman saved in spectacular fashion.
“Megan’s a good goalkeeper, and she’s practiced and trained so well lately,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “Mo hadn’t been in top form as of late, and Megan actually played really good considering the chaos they caused near the net. We were just on our heels all