MOBILE, Ala. — The LSU soccer team fell to the South Alabama Jaguars on Wednesday, as the Tigers were outscored 2-1 in their first road game of the season. The match was LSU’s return to competition after nearly a two-week hiatus.
“We just lost to a better team today,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “We knew that South Alabama was a very good team coming into the game. They are the Sun Belt Conference Champions and tonight they definitely played like it.”
With the loss, the Tigers fall to an overall record of 2-2 on the season while South Alabama improved to 2-3-1. LSU owns a 2-1 mark against non-conference opponents in 2001. The Tigers recorded victories over McNeese State, 5-0, and Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-0, earlier in the season.
South Alabama scored the game-winning goal late in the first half as Julia Herman rifled a shot into the far corner of the net to earn her second goal of the season. Freshman Tracey Houchin was awarded with the assist on the play at 39:53 into the contest.
The Jaguars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s contest as sophomore Melissa Moeschl converted on a penalty kick with 15:09 remaining in the half. South Alabama was awarded the penalty kick after the Tigers were charged with a handball in the box. With the goal, Moeschl recorded her second goal of the season.
LSU’s Elizabeth Marschall then countered with her first goal of the season by aiming a header past Katie Rosman with 7:57 remaining in the half.
The Tigers’ score was set up by junior Ashley Mitnick on a corner kick. By assisting on the goal, Mitnick earned her third assist of the season and moved into sole possession of third place in the LSU record book with 11.
Former Tiger great Michelle McKinney holds the LSU record with 14 career assists.
South Alabama leads the all-time series by a count of 4-2 and is undefeated versus the Tigers at “The Cage” in Mobile, Ala.
The LSU soccer team will next be in action on Friday, Sept. 21, as the Tigers host Nicholls State at 7 p.m. at the LSU Soccer Complex.