LSU soccer coach Brian Lee said he knows the Southeastern Conference title isn’t won at home.
Following a 4-0 start in SEC play at the renovated LSU Soccer Stadium as part of a month-long, eight-match homestand, the No. 25 Tigers (9-3-1, 4-0 SEC) will finally hit the road in conference play tonight when they travel to Nashville to take on a struggling Vanderbilt (6-6, 0-4) squad.
Senior goalkeeper Mo Isom said the team is ready to take its winning mindset on the road after the momentum boost of home victories.
“We’re prepared to dominate teams on their home field, in front of their fans, and make them cry,” Isom said.
The Commodores have yet to score in SEC play while allowing 10 goals to a quartet of formidable opponents in South Carolina, No. 11 Florida, No. 22 Auburn and Alabama.
While Vanderbilt’s recent woes seem to indicate little challenge for a confident LSU squad — which is 8-0-1 in its last nine games — Lee called the Commodores “maybe the best team in the league, box-to-box.”
“They rely on some really good ball movement, holding possession well,” Lee said. “They’ve been a little unlucky scoring goals. We’ll have to be sound in our midfield play because that’s their strength.”
Vanderbilt defeated LSU, 1-0, in Baton Rouge last year and holds an 8-5-2 advantage in the all-time series.
Despite the Tigers’ recent unbeaten streak, the team is still unproven on the road. Only one match during the stretch, a sloppy 2-1 victory at Houston, was played away from home.
LSU began the season with a 2-3 mark in its opening five-match road trip, scoring only six goals and being shut out twice.
After the slow start, the Tiger offense has roared to life in recent weeks, especially since conference play began.
LSU leads the SEC in conference scoring, averaging three goals per game and netting at least two goals in all four matches.
Providing the offensive firepower has been senior Taryne Boudreau, whose move to forward in the last month has helped her rack up nine goals and two assists in the last nine games, earning her SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors the past two weeks.
Lee said LSU’s offense will need to continue its consistency and force Vanderbilt’s woeful offense to play from behind early.
“We have a lot of confidence in our defense, obviously,” Lee said. “But road games come down to being composed in the final third and capitalizing on those few chances you get around the net.”
On Sunday afternoon, the Tigers travel to Lexington, Ky., for a huge showdown with Kentucky.
The Wildcats (9-3, 2-2) hold the No. 10 spot in the RPI and are expected to vie for the SEC Eastern Division title.
Kentucky’s steady offensive attack, which accounts for about two goals per game, could challenge a stingy LSU back line in the defensive third.
“I would say the entire back four will have a big impact on how we fare this weekend,” Lee said. “Players like [sophomores] Shannon McLain and Alex Ramsey need to continue their aggressive kicks and strong passing for us to be successful.”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]