LSU soccer has been a rising force through head coach Sian Hudson’s first five seasons with the Tigers.
She took the team to three-consecutive postseason showings, but the 2023 year ended with a loss to Memphis in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Now in the 2024 season, the team has its sights set firmly on making a statement in the SEC and going further in the national tournament.
But first, the Tigers have to round out non-conference play before facing No. 6 Arkansas in Fayetteville on Thursday Sept. 19.
The Tigers stand at 5-1-1 right now with one loss to Arizona State and one draw with Utah. Most recently, they defeated the University of San Francisco 4-1 on Thursday. Midfielder Ida Hermannsdottir had two goals.
On Sunday, LSU will face UC Davis to continue its California trip, which will serve as a critical test, so the team goes into SEC play with strong momentum.
So far, LSU’s season began with a mix of excitement and cautious optimism about what lies ahead for the 2024 season.
Their squad is a blend of experienced upperclassmen, such as forward Mollie Baker and Hermannsdottir, and talented freshmen, such as midfielder Ava Amsden and forward Amy smith.
The team’s backline has been particularly solid, anchored by veteran defenders who have grown into a cohesive unit. Transfer defenders Sydney Cheesman and Jazmin Ferguson have also been useful on both sides of the ball. Ferguson has two goals, and Cheesman has four assists so far this season.
The Tigers also have an electric pace in the midfield. Hermannsdottir leads the team with six goals. Midfielder/forward Ava Galligan has three goals and two assists this season.
The Tigers possess the necessary ingredients to challenge even the toughest opponents in the SEC, like No. 4 Arkansas and No. 6 Auburn.
However, the team’s journey so far hasn’t been without challenges.
Early in the non-conference schedule, LSU faced tough matches. It had a 5-2 loss in its home opener against Arizona State and a 1-1 draw with Utah.
In certain games they’ve shown their full potential moving the ball with precision, pressing their opponents high up in the field. In other games, inexperience in certain key areas was exposed, leading to a few dropped results.
But even in defeat, the Tigers showed resilience and a willingness to learn from their mistakes, making them a dangerous proposition moving forward.
Sunday’s match against UC Davis is more than just a regular non-season conference; it’s a measure for where LSU stands ahead of SEC playoffs.
With the 4-1 win over USF, the Tigers are in a good position. San Francisco was a respected opponent with a history of competing at the highest levels of NCAA soccer. The Dons stand at 3-4 and played hard against this strong SEC opponent.
Now the Tigers need to finish business on the West Coast with a victory over Davis on Sunday. The win won’t be easy.
The Aggies have six wins this season, and are hungry to beat LSU on their home pitch. Aggie midfielder/forward Sam Tristan has six goals and will test the Tiger defense.
LSU has been striving to establish consistency, and a win over Davis would give them strength to go into the match against Arkansas with winning-energy.
The start to SEC play won’t be easy for the Tigers. The Razorbacks are leading the SEC with a 2.6 score average and have top-notch forwards that constantly attack the goal.
The journey to postseason starts now, and the Tigers know what it takes to get there.
But this season with new players, LSU wants to make a statement this year before the SEC tournament in Pensacola Florida.
If they build momentum heading into the grueling schedule the rest of the season, this momentum will be critical to feel the confidence. If LSU can build on their performance against USF and continue to grow as a team, they have every reason to believe that this could be a breakout year.
The Tigers have all the necessities to make it far in the SEC tournament. They have the talent and the coaching staff to see the success rapidly grow over the rest of the season as well as through the SEC tournament.
They will need to bring their A-game especially going against Kentucky on Oct. 10 and Texas on Oct. 13.
