BATON ROUGE — Looking for a return to some of the fortunes of its earlier years, the LSU soccer team kicks off its sixth season of play and its first under new head coach George Fotopoulos August 25 at 4 p.m. on the road with a season opener against Troy State.
The Tigers then travel to Monroe for the second game of their 20-game schedule to face Louisiana – Monroe on Aug. 27 at 1 p.m.? LSU will play a total of 10 home games and 10 road games.
The Tigers will host the LSU Invitational from Sept. 1-3.? Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss will participate in the tournament.? LSU will face Texas Tech on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. in its home opener and finish up the weekend with Oklahoma State on Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.
Following the tournament, the Tigers will travel to Florida to face Stetson on Sept. 7 and Embry-Riddle on Sept. 9 in a pair of road matches.? Next, the Tigers will return home to host Alabama A&M on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
In the Tigers’ final tune-up before the start of conference play, Northwestern State comes to the LSU Soccer Complex on Sept. 22 for only the second time ever.
Arkansas then arrives in town for the Southeastern Conference opener on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. as the Tigers maked their first ever regional television appearance, as Fox Sports South will broadcast the game on a tape-delayed basis.? The Tigers are 2-3 all-time against the Lady ‘Backs, and in both years that the Tigers have beaten Arkansas they have also gone on to make the SEC Tournament.
After the match with Arkansas, the Tigers to Lafayette for a match with first-year program Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. before hitting the road for critical conference match-ups at Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
The Tigers will face the Rebels on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in Oxford and take on the Bulldogs on October 1 at 1 p.m.? A year ago the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 start in league play with victories over each team.
The Tigers then reach the heart of their conference schedule and return home to face four straight SEC opponents at the LSU Soccer Complex. Georgia comes to town on October 6 at 7 p.m.? LSU has not seen Georgia in action since 1998 and looks to improve on the 0-2 all-time record against the Bulldogs.
The second of the Eastern Division schools visiting LSU is Tennessee, which will be in town on Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.
The Crimson Tide of Alabama will challenge the Tigers to a match next on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.? Two days later, Auburn will finish the Tigers’ run of SEC matches on Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.
LSU will then take a break from SEC play to travel to Thibodaux to take on Nicholls State for on Oct. 17 at 4 p.m.?? The Tigers defeated the Colonels 6-0 in 1999 in the two clubs first meeting.
The Tigers will finish up regular season SEC play with a road excursion to the East to take on Kentucky and Vanderbilt.? LSU will face the Wildcats on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. and the Comodores on Oct. 22 at noon.
LSU will conclude the regular season with a home match against Tulane on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
The SEC tournament will be held in Athens, Ga. Nov. 1-5.? The top two team from both the East and the West will receive automatic bids and the next four best teams receiving wild card bids.? LSU will be looking for its
first appearance since 1998.
The Tigers return nine letterwinners and six starters from the 1999 squad that went 4-15-1.
2000 LSU Soccer Schedule
August
Fri., 25 at Troy State, 4 p.m.; Sun., at Louisiana- Monroe, 1 p.m.
September
Fri., 1 vs. Texas Tech, 7p.m. (LSU Invitational); Sun., 3 vs. Oklahoma State, 2 p.m. ;? Thurs., 7 at Stetson, 3 p.m.;? Sat., 9 at Embry-Riddle, 4 p.m.;? Fri., 15 vs. Alabama A&M, 7 p.m. ;? Fri., 22 vs. Northwestern State, 7 p.m.;? Sun., 24 vs. Arkansas, 1 p.m.;? Tues., at UL-Lafayette, 4 p.m.; Fri., at Ole Miss, 7p.m.
October
Sun., 1 at Mississippi State, 1 p.m.;? Fri., 6 vs. Georgia, 7 p.m.;? Sun. 8 vs. Tennessee, 2 p.m.;? Fri., 13 vs. Alabama, 7 p.m.;?? Sun., 15 vs. Auburn, 1 p.m.;? Tues., 17 at Nicholls State, 4 p.m.;? Fri., 20 at Kentucky, 6 p.m.;? Sun., 22 at Vanderbilt, Noon;?? Wed., 25 vs. Tulane, 7 p.m.
November
Wed.-Sun., 1-5 at the SEC Tournament, Athens, Ga.