BATON ROUGE — Head coach Brian Lee and the LSU soccer team have wrapped up fall camp and are set to kick off the 2007 season at home Friday as they welcome Southern Miss to the LSU Soccer Complex in their opening game of the LSU Classic at 7 p.m.
This marks the first time since 2004 that the Tigers open the season at home as they own an 8-4 record all-time in season openers while winning seven of their last nine.
“We’ve been looking forward to this day for the last nine months, and we’re excited about the opportunity to open up in front of our fans this season,” Lee said. “We were a little disappointed in the final results of last season, but the girls have had an outstanding camp and have committed themselves to making 2007 a special season for LSU soccer.”
The Tigers are poised to compete for the program’s first ever Southeastern Conference title and berth in the NCAA Tournament, and they will do so with an experienced group as they return all 11 starters and 16 letterwinners from last year’s squad.
LSU begins its quest this weekend as it takes on Southern Miss of Conference USA, which it defeated in Hattiesburg, Miss., a year ago by the score of 2-1 in the first ever meeting between the schools. The Golden Eagles struggled to a 4-13-1 record in 2006 with a 0-9 mark in league play.
“Southern Miss will give our team a good test tomorrow night, especially as a season opener,” Lee said. “They’re a tough team for anybody to prepare for because of the style with which they play. They are a defensive minded club that will be tough for us to break down when we’re in the attacking third. Execution is definitely going to be a key for us.”
The Tigers open the season with their most talented roster in program history, returning their top seven scorers from 2006 and five starters who have earned All-SEC recognition in their careers.
Sophomore Michelle Makasini returns after tying the school’s freshman scoring record with a team-high 11 goals and 29 points en route to being named a Freshman All-American by Soccer Buzz Magazine a year ago. She was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team for her efforts.
Sophomore Chelsea Potts cracked the starting lineup as a center back in all 20 matches last season and was also named a Freshman All-American and a Second-Team All-SEC selection. In addition, junior Roslyn Jones earned her first career All-SEC honor a year ago, while sophomore Malorie Rutledge was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Lee is also excited about the return of sophomore standout Melissa Clarke, who missed the final 14 games in 2006 after suffering a torn lateral collateral ligament in her knee against Villanova on Sept. 10. Clarke was an all-conference midfielder as a freshman in 2005.
“This is as deep and as talented as we’ve been in my three years here, and that will be crucial for us with the difficult schedule we play this year,” Lee said. “Our fans have the chance to come out and see some of the best players in the country as we’re all looking forward to a great season.”
Friday is “LSU Spirit Night” at the LSU Soccer Complex as the first 500 fans who enter the stadium will receive a free LSU t-shirt. It is also the first Baton Rouge Soccer Association Night of the season as an overflow crowd is expected. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.
The Tigers follow their showdown with the Golden Eagles with a match against Louisiana Tech on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. that is scheduled for a live TV broadcast by Cox Sports Television. The LSU Classic also includes Furman, which will take on Louisiana Tech on Friday at 4 p.m. and Southern Miss on Sunday at 11 a.m.