LSU soccer tops S. Alabama, 2-0

• By DAMIAN FOLEY
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Aug 23, 2008 - Page: 7C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

The LSU soccer team, looking to continue last year’s success, beat South Alabama, 2-0, on Friday at the LSU Soccer Complex.

The Tigers, who have nine starters returning from the 2007 team that won the SEC Western Division and was the first in school history to make the NCAA Tournament, outshot South Alabama 20-3, with all three Jaguars shots coming in the first 45 minutes.

South Alabama had just one corner kick to the Tigers’ nine, a field-position victory that allowed first-year LSU goalkeeper Mo Isom to make two saves all night.

But with 20 shots and just two goals, LSU coach Brian Lee expected the Tigers forwards and midfielders to be more in-step and the backline to be sharper.

“We can play much better,” Lee said. “It was the first game of the year, we have plenty of room to improve. We’re much better than we played tonight.”

LSU All-American Michelle Makasini set the tone early with a shot six minutes in off a turnover by Kayla Conrad, but her drive was sent high and to the right.

With 26 minutes remaining in the first half, Rachel Yepez picked Makasini out at the far post with a well-weighted cross, but Makasini got too far under the ball and put too much into her shot, and the shot from six yards out missed by 15 feet.

Five minutes later, Yepez did it all herself when she flicked a Roslyn Jones chip past a flat-footed South Alabama defender and half-volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

The opening goal energized the crowd of 1,304, and the Tigers came right back at the visitors and almost scored a minute later when Melissa Clarke’s shot from outside the left post went inches wide and hit the side netting.

South Alabama’s Brandi Smith almost tied the game at the 30-minute mark when she found herself all alone in the goalbox. Isom moved left, taking the near post away from the right-footed Smith, who was forced to take the bad angle and shot the ball wide left of the target.

“(Isom) is super athletic and she can play the ball with her feet very comfortably,” Lee said of his freshman goalie. “For her first fall season game, she was outstanding.”

LSU came close to scoring again at the end of the first half when Hermann Trophy watch list nominee Malorie Rutledge sent in a corner kick from the right side of the pitch.

Clarke beat everyone to the ball and got a shot off from five yards out, but the half ended before the ball went in the net, denying LSU a goal.