The LSU soccer team opened its 2011-12 season with a weekend of mixed results, splitting a pair of non-conference road matches for a 1-1 start.
After an opening loss to Memphis on Friday night, the Tigers bounced back to rout Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Ragin’ Cajuns Soccer Stadium in Lafayette.
“The biggest positive was turning around so well and showing good fitness on short rest,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “Running hard in the heat as we prepare for the Friday-Sunday schedule we’ll see in the [Southeastern Conference] was an important thing to see from this us.”
LSU didn’t get on the board until the 68th minute, when senior midfielder Natalie Martineau buried a pass from standout sophomore Addie Eggleston into the back of the net to break a scoreless tie.
From there, the offensive floodgates opened for a frustrated Tiger attack.
Off nifty feeds from senior midfielder Taryne Boudreau and freshman midfielder Alex Arlitt, junior forward Carlie Banks quickly tacked on another score in the 78th minute.
Arlitt rounded out the late offensive barrage in the 88th minute, volleying in a Kaley Blades corner kick from six yards out for the final goal.
Senior goalkeeper Mo Isom notched a shutout in her season debut, but was rarely tested as the LSU back line allowed only three total shots and two on goal from ULL.
The season opener was decidedly less impressive, as the Tigers were handily defeated by Memphis, 3-1, Friday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis.
2010-11 SEC All-Freshman goalkeeper Megan Kinneman opened her sophomore campaign with an inauspicious performance, allowing three goals to an aggressive Memphis front line, which managed 15 total shots on an unusually porous LSU defense.
Kinneman gave up just 10 goals in 14 games during her breakout freshman season.
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]