BATON ROUGE — The LSU soccer team begins a weekend doubleheader on Friday as the Tigers host the Nicholls State Lady Colonels at 7 p.m. at the LSU Soccer Complex.
“Both of our games this weekend are must-wins for us,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “Right now is a very difficult time for all Americans to try and focus on anything other than the terrorist acts and the possibility of war, but we need to come together as a team and get some wins.”
The Tigers look to rebound from Wednesday’s tough loss on the road against South Alabama. The contest was LSU’s first road game of the season and its first competition since the national tragedies of Sept. 11.
LSU heads into Friday’s match with an overall record of 2-2 and the Tigers are in the midst of a seven game winning streak versus Louisiana opponents.
The LSU soccer team has not been defeated by an in-state rival since 1999 when McNeese State upset the Tigers, 2-1.
“After coming off such a disappointing loss against South Alabama we need to regroup mentally and try to get some victories,” Fotopoulos said. “We’re going to make some minor adjustments in the lineup and I think that the changes should help us a bit this weekend.”
Nicholls State enters Friday’s non-conference matchup with an overall record of 1-2 and is looking to end a two game losing skid. The Lady Colonels fell in their last two contests against Southwest Texas, 3-0, and Troy State, 1-0. Nicholls State’s lone win of the season came against Alabama A&M, 4-2, in the Southern Miss Golden Eagle Classic.
The Tigers are undefeated against Nicholls State and lead the all-time series, 2-0. LSU was victorious over the Lady Colonels, 6-0, in 1999, and then by a count of 4-0 last season.
The LSU soccer team returns home to face the Nicholls State Lady Colonels at 7 p.m. on Friday at the LSU Soccer Complex.