As if the LSU soccer team did not make a statement to other Southeastern Conference foes last November when, as an eighth seed, it knocked off top-seeded Auburn in the SEC Tournament, LSU will attempt to do it again.
The Tigers venture to Lexington, Ky. on Friday and Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday to take on SEC Eastern Division opponents Kentucky and Vanderbilt, respectively, to open SEC play.
LSU heads into Friday night’s contest against the Wildcats with a record of 7-1-1. Friday’s game will begin at 6:30 p.m., while Sunday’s contest is scheduled to be televised on SEC-TV (Fox Sports Southwest – Cable Channel 38) at 1 p.m.
“We’re always considered the underdog,” said defender Tara Mitnick. “We want to go in, shut both the teams out and make a huge statement that LSU this year is going to be a dominant team that you have to look out for.”
Junior forward Artie Brown echoed Mitnick’s sentiments.
“We played with [formerly ranked No. 11] Texas, [so] we can play with anybody,” Brown said. “We’re just going to let them know that we’re not going to be underdogs. We’re going to show them that we’re going to be one of the leaders in the SEC.”
Coach George Fotopoulos said this weekend will tell him a lot about the team.
“I think we’re a good team,” Fotopoulos said. “In a month or so, [we’ll know] whether or not it’s a good team or a great team.
“To be a great team you have to be able to go into hostile environments. Both Kentucky and Vanderbilt will be like that. These are the games you really prepare for.”
Brown said the key this weekend will be getting on the board first.
“We want to score early,” Brown said. “We’re not going to wait for halftime for George to give us a speech, ‘Hey you guys need to go ahead and take care of this team.'”
Mitnick agreed, saying an early goal would give the Tigers a shot in the arm.
“When we score early we do good,” Mitnick said. “Our team gets motivated a lot off of that.”
Brown said assistant coach Tracy Hay put the off weekend in perspective for the Tigers.
“She said that was the first half of our season, and it’s kind of preseason all over again when getting ready for SEC play,” Brown said. “Not that that didn’t matter, but [SEC play] is crucial.”
Fotopoulos said he does not know if an off weekend at this juncture of the season is a good thing or not.
“You think it’s [good] because of the academic demands of the kids,” Fotopoulos said. “Some people might say that we might come out flat. Other people might say it was good [because] we got some rest and got to refocus.”
Kentucky and Vanderbilt faced each other in the conference’s first game with Kentucky winning 1-0. Overall, Kentucky is 3-5-1 and Vandy is 4-2-1.