The LSU soccer team (7-1-1) continued its dominance of in-state schools this weekend as it defeated Southeastern, 2-1, and UL- Lafayette, 4-0. The Tigers are now 17-0-2 under coach George Fotopoulos against in-state schools.
“Before I got here, both coaches consistently lost to in-state teams,” Fotopoulos said. “We make it a point to win these games. I feel that it is a rivalry.”
On Sunday, the Tigers used a second half goal by senior midfielder Jen deHay to top the Lions and come away with a win despite a slow start.
“It was tied 1-1 at half, and the emphasis was put on that we needed to go out with respect,” deHay said. “This game was kind of all about respect. We were playing for pride. He really challenged the upperclassmen to step up their game.”
Fotopoulos said he did not believe the team was playing up to their potential in the first half and the absence of injured players, senior defender Casey Dexter and freshman midfielder Michelle DeCespedes, also made it difficult.
“I think we weren’t really prepared or focused and took Southeastern very lightly,” he said. “But in the end, the right team won. We just made it difficult for ourselves. We had an off day, but we found a way to win. That’s a sign of a good team.”
Assistant coach Tracy Hay said the Tigers’ slow start is a symptom of a young team.
“I was proud of the girls that they were able to do that, but we should of never let it come to that point,” she said. “We are young team, and we have to mature a little bit and learn to play the whole 90 [minutes].”
Junior forward Artie Brown scored the first goal after fielding the corner kick from senior midfielder Elizabeth Marschall. deHay was assisted in her goal by a crossing pass from sophomore midfielder Kate Ripple.
Friday night’s game against the Cajuns did not require a late goal for a LSU victory, and they won handly 4-0 thanks to goals from Brown, Lafayette native senior forward Rachel Cohen and junior midfielder Danielle Keath.
“That game went a lot better,” Ripple said. “We scored two goals right from the beginning and just dominated from there on out.”
The ULL game took place at the Ragin Cajun’s football field, ULL’s version of “The Swamp” and deHay said it offered an unfriendly playing surface for the Tigers.
“The field conditions were pretty bad and it wasn’t a pretty game,” she said. “It really limited our game and put it favor of ULL. But we found a way to win.”
The Tigers do not play again for two weeks when they will begin SEC play at Kentucky. Fotopoulos said he expects to have both, Dexter and DeCespedes back in the lineup for the conference opener.