NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The LSU soccer team was shutout by the 20th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores on Sunday, 2-0, on an overcast and windy afternoon at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
“Vanderbilt is a very good team and they are very deep,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “Playing two games in three days on an SEC weekend, they are able to rotate players and stay fresh and really not miss a beat. They’re an excellent team and are well-coached.”
The Tigers fell behind early in the match when Vanderbilt midfielder Lauren Mitchell fired a free kick into the net after an LSU foul at the 10:12 mark of the first half. Defender Brett Burns pushed the Vanderbilt lead to 2-0 at the 35:47 mark by punching in a header off a cross from forward Jessica Lenze.
LSU (4-3-2, 0-1-1 SEC) went into the locker room attempting just one shot in the first half and was held without a corner kick. Vanderbilt (9-1, 2-0 SEC) attempted 11 shots, including five on goal, and had four corner kicks.
The Tigers missed an opportunity to score their first goal of the match in the 10th minute of the second half when senior forward Kate Ripple and freshman midfielder Melissa Clarke had shots from point-blank range blocked by Vanderbilt defenders.
LSU finished the match with six shots and did not attempt a shot on goal, while Vanderbilt fired 25 shots, including 12 shots on goal. The Commodores attempted eight corner kicks to just three for the Tigers.
“We were able to get to the end line and get some decent serves, but we just never put anything on target,” Lee said. “Credit goes to Vanderbilt. They are well-coached and they have a quality back four, so we’ll have to take better quality in our chances in the future.”
Despite the two goals by Vanderbilt, freshman goalkeeper Jackie Moseley saved a career-high 10 shots in the match, including seven in the second half, and Lee said he was pleased with the play of his defense in the second half.
“We came out much better in the second half and competed much harder in the way we needed to be competitive against a team the quality of Vanderbilt,” Lee said. “Overall, we were very pleased with our play in the second half.”
The Tigers return to Baton Rouge and the LSU Soccer Complex on Friday to take on Ole Miss at 7 p.m. followed by a home match against Mississippi State on Sunday at 1 p.m.