The LSU soccer team is trying to do something twice this weekend it hasn’t done the entire season.
 
The Tigers (5-6-3, 2-2-2) have the opportunity for their first road win in their first October road game of the year Friday against Ole Miss (5-8-2, 1-4-1) before traveling to Mississippi State on Sunday.
Junior defender Taryne Boudreau said the Tigers need two wins this weekend while fighting for a spot in the Southeastern Conference tournament. LSU has made the tournament every year since the 2006-07 season.
 
“If we don’t win these next two games, we’re not going to go to conference, and that’s a big thing for us since we’re defending [SEC] West champs,” Boudreau said.
 
The Tigers haven’t lost a regular season game to Mississippi State (7-8-0, 0-6-0) since the 2001-02 season. But the same can’t be said for Ole Miss. LSU tied the Rebels, 0-0, last year and lost to them in the regular season in 2008 before beating them in the SEC tournament.
 
“From watching film on Ole Miss and from last year, they like to spread the field, and they like to go at you,” Boudreau said. “They man mark. All we’ve got to do is pass and move against them.”
 
But that’s easier said than done. It’s no secret the Tigers have had trouble finishing scoring chances this year.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Megan Kinneman and junior goalkeeper Mo Isom haven’t allowed more than one goal in any of their last 11 matches, yet they’ve won only four of those games.
 
The Tigers have only seven goals in their last 11 matches, and before they can worry about anything else they have to focus on scoring.
 
“We’re still trying to mesh well,” Boudreau said. “People are moving positions. We’ve got to click this weekend and make it happen and find the net and score.”
 
Freshman forward Addie Eggleston said coming together as a unit will be the key to LSU’s success the rest of the season.
 
“We started connecting a little better, but we still need to actually finish the ball and just connect our defense to midfield and midfield to forward,” Eggleston said. “We need to all play well together.”
 
Boudreau said there is no excuse for losing Sunday’s matchup against Mississippi State, which is winless in the SEC.
 
“I know if we just play our game against them they won’t beat us,” Boudreau said.
 
LSU coach Brian Lee said it’s essential the Tigers are mentally prepared and physically fit when they play the Bulldogs. LSU lost its Sunday match last week against Vanderbilt, 1-0.
 
“Physical recovery in the 48 hours is really hard,” Lee said. “It will come down to effort level and intensity and who finishes their chances.”
 
Despite the lack of points, Lee said the freshmen-laden team has picked up its intensity this week.
 
“You start to realize, ‘I’ve only got five games left, and then I won’t play a meaningful game again for nine months,'” Lee said. “Compared to their old club schedules, that’s really, really different.”
 
Lee said the Tigers are excited to travel after two weeks at home.
 
“It’s an opportunity for some team bonding,” he said.
 
 
 
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]