ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The LSU soccer team looks to return to its winning ways when it takes on the undefeated and regionally-ranked Villanova Wildcats on Sunday in a match scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CDT at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
The Tigers (3-2) saw their three-game winning streak snapped Friday with a 2-0 shutout at the hands of tournament host Navy. This marks their first ever meeting with Villanova as the Wildcats enter the match a perfect 6-0 on the season and ranked sixth in the Mid-Atlantic region by Soccer Buzz Magazine.
“Villanova’s an outstanding team that is very organized and committed to their style of play,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “They’re an outstanding defensive team and like to keep possession. It’ll be a great test for our young kids going up against Villanova.”
Villanova has proven its worth on the defensive end as it has earned three straight shutouts, including a 3-0 shutout of Butler on Friday, and allowed just one goal on the young season while outscoring its opponents by a total of 16-1. Junior forward Nikki Mabery leads the Wildcat attack with a Big East leading seven goals and 15 points.
“We’ve got a tough task ahead of us playing a team like Villanova, but we’re excited to get right back on the field after a tough game against Navy on Friday,” Lee said. “We’re looking forward to a great game before we come back home next week.”
LSU returns to Baton Rouge on Wednesday as it welcomes No. 8 Texas to the LSU Soccer Complex in a match scheduled for 7 p.m. This marks just the second time in their 11-year history that the Tigers will play host to a ranked non-conference opponent as they squared off with 22nd-ranked SMU in the final game of the 1999 season.