The LSU soccer team is hitting the road this weekend, but will stay within the boundaries of Louisiana as they face off against UL-Lafayettte tonight and Southeastern on Sunday.
The Tigers have not lost to an in-state team since 1999 and have compiled a 15-0-2 mark against other Louisiana universities since coach George Fotopoulos took over the reigns in 2000.
“It’s two competitions in-state and we want to be the best team in the state,” said senior midfielder Stephanie Keating.
Fotopoulos said winning both games will not be an easy task for LSU.
“Obviously, I think we are playing two of the best teams in our state,” Fotopoulos said. “ULL-it’s always a battle when we play them. They’re very well-coached. SLU is undefeated and probably will win the Southland Conference. They don’t know how to lose.”
After tying Tulane and losing to No. 11 Texas in overtime, the Tigers are looking to regain their confidence, and Keating believes that will be the key for a Tiger victory.
“The key for us to win is to put last weekend in the past,” she said.
Fotopoulos said he believes the team will be successful if it takes advantage of scoring opportunities and prevents early goals by the opponent.
“The key for us is going to be to finish our chances, gain confidence defensively and not give up any early goals like we did to Tulane,” he said.
The Tigers were able to see ULL play a few weeks ago in the Tiger Classic at the LSU Soccer Complex and Fotopoulos said he was impressed by what he saw.
“Every year they’ve gotten better,” he said. “Their goal keeper is one of the best that I’ve seen in a long time and when you have a good goal keeper, you can stay in a lot of games. So it is important that we try to get up on them early.”
Senior midfielder Rachel Cohen will be traveling to Lafayette for her last time to face her hometown university.
“A lot of people think it’s a big game for me, but it’s just another game,” Cohen said. “It’s a big game for me and the team because we need to win this weekend to get our confidence back after Texas, but I don’t want more significance put on it then there should be.”
Cohen said her main concern is to come out of the game healthy because she has been injured in the last three matches with the Cajuns.
“I would much prefer to play in another big game and just get through the game and not get hurt,” she said.
SLU freshman defender Chaley Drazenovic was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week and has helped the Lions get off to their best start ever in the program at 5-0-1.
The Tigers will need to continue their high offensive output to combat the SLU defense. Led by Southeastern Conference leading goal scorer freshman Stacy Bishop, LSU has scored 30 goals in its first seven games.
“We just need not to play down to the level of competition,” Cohen said. “If we keep our shape and heads in the game, we should be successful.”