In a matchup of top-25 teams, the margin for error is often razor thin.
Throw Vendula Strnadova, Conference USA Offensive MVP, into the mix, and it’s nonexistent.
The Czech youth national team member was limited to just one shot in Saturday’s match with No. 18 LSU.
However, it proved one too many as Strnadova rocketed a shot from inside the penalty area to beat LSU junior goalkeeper Mo Isom and give No. 23 Memphis a 1-0 win against the Tigers.
The 17th-minute blast epitomized a shaky opening half for LSU (1-1), who struggled to defend and produced few scoring chances in the first 45 minutes.
Memphis (3-0) outshot LSU, 9-3, in the first half and nearly stretched its lead to 2-0 when senior forward Laura Laufenberg’s header hit the post only minutes before halftime.
“In the first half, we were really outcompeted,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “Some of our younger kids just weren’t ready for the real college environment against a top-level team.”
Instability was nothing new for the Tigers, who started freshmen on the back line and lost a sixth-minute goal in an exhibition against Texas.
Despite the inconsistent play, three of the four starting defenders played all 90 minutes.
The growing pains on the back line may take time to heal, but Lee believes his patience will pay off later in the season.
“You just have to have continuity in your back four,” he said. “It’s a new group. We’re still building their comfort level playing with each other, so they’re going to have to play all the minutes.”
Buoyed by a record crowd of 1,223 at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, each side pushed in an incredibly aggressive game for the goal.
Although neither team was shown a card, nearly 20 fouls were whistled. Lee said the fouls could have been even higher.
“The official was consistent in not calling,” said Lee. “I thought our kids adjusted to that, and we kept our composure.”
LSU responded with urgency in the second half, outshooting Memphis.
Despite the pressure, however, there was no equalizer to be found.
Sophomore forward Tricia Johnson and freshman forward Kaley Blades, both of whom came off the bench, provided the majority of efforts on goal.
Each took three shots. No other LSU player took more than one shot.
“The halftime talk wasn’t anything about tactics or formations, it was just about competing at the level that is necessary in terms of running and tackling,” Lee said. “The girls did that in the second half. They just
really weren’t ready for Memphis’ determination tonight when the game started.”
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Contact Ryan Ginn at [email protected]