In getting off to a school-best 5-0 start, the LSU soccer team has dominated every game, outscoring the opposition 26-1.
However, the Tigers will be replacing teams like Loyola of Maryland and Coastal Carolina, the Tigers’ stiffest competition thus far, with the likes of in-state foe Tulane (2-2) and No. 12 Texas (3-1) as LSU leaves the friendly confines of The LSU Soccer Complex.
It will be the first time in the young season the Tigers will journey on the road. The games also will provide LSU with a chance to pick up a couple of solid non-conference road wins, something the NCAA selection committee heavily considers when picking the field that will contend for the national title.
LSU will visit the Green Wave tonight at 7 p.m. at Westfeldt Facility in New Orleans. The all-time record is in Tulane’s favor at 3-2, but the Tigers won the last match in 2000, LSU coach George Fotopoulos’ debut season at the helm. Under Fotopoulos’ guidance the Tigers’ are 15-0-1 against in-state schools.
“Every game now is make or break,” Fotopoulos said. “Tulane is more than good enough to beat us. They are well-coached.”
On the line this weekend is a 13-game non-conference winning streak for the Tigers.
“Sometimes it’s easy to look past a team that isn’t one of the top teams [in the country],” Fotopoulos said. “Tulane thinks they’re better. Conference USA thinks it’s a better conference than the SEC.”
Goalie Robyn DesOrmeaux, who has faced just 13 shots on goal this season, said while the team expects stiffer tests this weekend, they should not change how they approach each game.
“With every team, we never see one team better than another,” DesOrmeaux said. “We do expect tougher competition. We don’t want to stray from our strategy.”
Without a doubt, the toughest task the Tigers have faced this young season is the game against Texas in Austin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Fotopoulos said he sees the Texas match-up resembling David vs. Goliath. LSU last played Texas in 2001, losing 4-0. However, the Tigers were trailing 1-0 at the half in that contest.
“Predicting the score and results isn’t possible,” Fotopoulos said. “All I can predict is how hard our team will play.”
Senior midfielder Stephanie Keating, along with senior Rachel Cohen, can tie former Tigers defender Ashley Mitnick for the LSU career assists record with 19. Keating said this weekend may be a good measuring stick for where LSU is with the Southeastern Conference schedule coming up.
“This weekend is definitely a challenge,” Keating said. “Each game is a good test for us. It’s not only going to tell us how we fit in the SEC, but also where we are.”
“[We don’t want] just a chance to knock them off, but show that we can compete at that level.”