The LSU rugby club’s wide-open, fast break style yielded mixed results during its Sweet 16 matchups at the USA Rugby Collegiate Playoffs at Life University in Marietta, Ga.The No. 10-seeded Tigers (9-3) dominated the No. 15 seed UCLA Bruins (9-8) 41-14 on Sunday, but not before the Tigers surrendered a 22-0 first half lead in a 31-25 defeat to the No. 7-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) on Saturday.The Tigers seemed destined for a quarterfinals appearance after converting two tries and a goal kick in the first 20 minutes against the Nittany Lions, but a Penn State try just before halftime reduced the Tigers’ lead to 22-7.The Nittany Lions’ forwards changed the game’s complexion in the second half, controlling possession on the Tigers’ half of the field and utilizing their size advantage to gain an upper hand in set pieces.The Nittany Lions outscored the Tigers 24-3 in the second half, capitalizing on three goal line scrums that each lead to Penn State scores.But it seemed as if the TIgers learned their lesson during their Sunday contest against the Bruins.The Tigers got off to another fast start with a 22-7 lead against the Bruins, but this time the Tigers were the team that exhibited a powerful display of dominance in the second half.The LSU lead was only 22-14 when the Bruins earned a one-man advantage courtesy of an LSU penalty, but the Tigers squandered any chance of a UCLA comeback by scoring 19 unanswered points in the final 10 minutes of the second half.The Tigers’ late scoring onslaught began in minute No. 70 when the Tigers converted a goal line scrum for a try. Five minute later freshman back Taylor Hunter provided a fast break score assisted by junior back Adam Ducoing.Senior center Andrew Larkin added another try in the last seconds of the game to make the final score 41-14.
LSU lacrosse ends 2010 campaign with doubleheader sweep in Memphis
The LSU lacrosse club finished the 2010 season with its best record in team history, but reaching that feat was no easy task.LSU (8-5) fought back from two second-half deficits to defeat the University of Memphis, 17-13, and Rhodes College, 14-12, during a doubleheader in Memphis, Tenn.Lacrosse coach Nick Joslyn said his team persevered through the challenge of having to play back-to-back games for the first time this season with an injury-plagued roster.”We came together, sucked it up and got the job done,” Joslyn said.LSU found itself trailing by two goals at the halfway point of each game. Joslyn credited the Memphis victory to the team members’ ability to implement halftime coaching adjustments.Sophomore attacker and The Daily Reveille employee Jacob Most led all scorers with six goals against Memphis while sophomore midfielder Tim Trahan provided LSU with five more goals.Most’s six goals against Memphis brings his season total to 53 goals, ranking him third nationally in goals scored.LSU’s second game against Rhodes required another valiant comeback.Trailing Rhodes by four goals entering the three periods, LSU outscored Rhodes 6-0 in the fourth period en route to a 14-12 victory.”We did not play well at all in the third quarter [against Rhodes],” said Joslyn. “But we were able to get a goal early in the fourth and capitalize on that momentum.”Freshman midfielder Ben Myers led LSU with five goals against Rhodes.Joslyn said he is anxious for his team to build on this season’s success during the summer.”All and all we are happy with our performance this season,” said Joslyn. “But we can’t wait to get back on the field this summer to build on our improvement.”——Contact Cory Boudreaux at [email protected]