DURHAM, N.C. — The LSU soccer team wrapped up its weekend trip through Tobacco Road in North Carolina by suffering a hard-fought 2-0 defeat at the hands of ACC power Duke on Sunday at Koskinen Stadium in Durham.
The Tigers finish the weekend with a 1-1 record on the road trip after defeating the nationally-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons by the score of 2-1 on Friday night in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“This weekend was huge for the development of our young team,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “We spent most of the two games with a total of 10 freshmen and sophomores on the field and measured up well with two of the top programs in America. We created a number of chances to score goals and played very well stylistically in both games.”
The Blue Devils, who were ranked as high as No. 12 in the country in the fall according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, took control of the match early by tallying both of their goals in the first half of play.
The Tigers were unable to capitalize on their opportunities to even the score as freshman forward Michelle Makasini and freshman midfielder Amanda Carreno each hit the post with quality shots early in the second half. Fellow freshman Rachel Yepez, who scored a goal against Wake Forest on Friday night, also misfired on an open shot in penalty area in the second half.
Despite the loss, Lee said that he continues to see his young team mature as they face some of the nation’s premier programs each time they step onto the field. In fact, 12 of the Tigers’ last 23 games have come against the top 30 teams in the country with four of the last five coming against teams that spent time ranked among the nation’s Top 10 in 2006.
“They’ve stood toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the country over the past eight months and are beginning to play up to their level of competition,” Lee said. “I know that I’m excited and our fans are excited to see the many great things that this team will accomplish over the course of their careers here at LSU.”
Lee added that Yepez and sophomore Roslyn Jones are developing a strong chemistry as the team’s primary options at forward, while the return of sophomore standout Veronica Godbolt from injury has allowed freshman Katherine Lagow to move into a more attacking role in one of the premier midfield units in the Southeastern Conference.
The Tigers will also be strong along their defensive back line when the 2007 season opens against Southern Miss on Aug. 31 as freshman center back Chelsea Potts and sophomore Casey Crawford will lead the unit in the last two games of the spring season after seeing action in all 180 minutes this weekend against Wake Forest and Duke.
The Tigers return home to face in-state rival Northwestern State on Tuesday at the LSU Soccer Complex in a match scheduled for 7 p.m., while they are set to close the spring season against SEC rival Ole Miss on Saturday at the Freedom Ridge Soccer Complex in Ridgeland, Miss.