Tasked with replacing the most successful senior class in program history, the LSU soccer team hardly looked like a group in the midst of a rebuilding year.LSU’s new-look starting lineup, featuring four freshmen and a transfer, exploded for five goals in the first half en route to an 8-0 victory Sunday against South Alabama at the LSU Soccer Complex.LSU coach Brian Lee said there was plenty to be impressed about, but also said his team hasn’t yet reached its potential. “Sometimes the score can cloud how you play,” he said. “We have a lot to sort out defensive organization-wise, and we can be much better.”The most notable performance came from freshman forward Addie Eggleston, who delivered a record-tying three assists in the game’s opening minutes before scoring two goals of her own in the second half. “I wasn’t really expecting to get all those [goals and assists], but we just kept pushing, and I got a lot of good through balls,” Eggleston said.LSU’s attacking mentality shaped the game from the opening whistle as Eggleston and freshman midfielder Nina Anderson repeatedly threatened the South Alabama back line.Junior midfielder Natalie Martineau, a transfer from Divison II Montevallo, opened the scoring 10 minutes into the match after chasing down a pass from Eggleston and  volleying it past South Alabama freshman goalkeeper Melissa Drish. Anderson and sophomore forward Carlie Banks each added goals in the next seven minutes, also on assists from Eggleston.Banks followed her first goal with a powerful shot from 20 yards that snuck under the crossbar and freshman forward Kaley Blades pushed the margin to 5-0 after blocking an attempted South Alabama clearance and slotting the ball past Drish.LSU wrapped up their season opener with three second-half goals as Eggleston scored a pair before sophomore forward Reyna Lubin added the eighth and final score on a powerful blast from outside the penalty area. E leven different Tigers contributed either a goal or assist in the victory. Perhaps lost in the offensive barrage was a solid effort from junior goalkeeper Mo Isom, who extended her school-record shutout total to 20. The Tigers’ back line was gutted by graduation and returned only senior captain Courtney Alexander. While LSU managed a shutout, South Alabama had its share of chances to find the back of the net.”I thought Mo Isom had one of her better games in her LSU career,” Lee said. “They easily could have had a goal or two, and she made big saves when she needed to.”The debut was a marked difference from the 2009 season opener that saw a flat LSU squad fall 3-0 at home to Memphis.However, the Tigers will get a true measurement of their potential during an upcoming four-game road trip that will include three ranked opponents. Lee put together the challenging slate to prepare his squad for the demanding nature of Southeastern Conference play.”We will know going into the SEC where we stand because the kids will be tested against some of the best players and teams in the country before we get there,” he said.Alexander said the team is motivated by a desire to prove it hasn’t dropped off despite losing eight seniors.”We know we have to prove ourselves day in and day out to get the respect of our competition,” she said. That respect will be tough to come by in the SEC. LSU, the three-time defending SEC Western Division champions, were picked to finish second in the division behind Auburn and received no first place votes for the overall SEC title. Lee doesn’t see the youth of his players as an excuse to change the team’s goals.”If we don’t win the SEC West and compete to win the SEC, certainly we would consider it not meeting our expectations,” he said.
 
 
 
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