by Elizabeth Stuart
LSU Sports Information
The LSU soccer program has been on a steady rise in four seasons under head coach Brian Lee as it has evolved into a nationally-respected program and a perennial contender in the SEC.
With Lee at the helm, seniors Casey Crawford, Roslyn Jones and Jackie Moseley not only watched the program grow, but contributed directly to its success and cement its place in the national spotlight as it is now regarded as one of the Top 20 programs in the country.
In 2005, the Tigers struggled to an 8-10-2 record in Lee’s first season that ended with a loss to SEC champion Tennessee in the first round of the SEC Tournament as the No. 8 seed. While the team qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since 2002, it was clear that the squad was looking for direction as the road toward respectability would be challenging.
Jones and Moseley were there from the beginning.
“We just wanted to make the SEC Tournament our first year,” Moseley said. “We definitely had been through some rough times. We had a tough year, but we learned a lot about ourselves despite the hard times. It takes more than just soccer and talent to be successful. It really takes a team to achieve what we all want.”
They used that first year as a growing period and were joined by Crawford ? a transfer from the University of Tennessee ? during the spring season in 2006. They would join with the senior class of 2007 to create a bond that would propel the program toward heights never seen before in its brief history.
“Valerie Vogler, Caroline Vanderpool and Sara Pollock all had an incredible bond with each one of us,” Moseley said. “They taught me so much more than anything I could have ever asked. They taught me a lot about playing with heart and playing with everything I had and giving it all on and off the field. Their influence was tremendous for this program.”
The Tigers were riding a wave of momentum into the 2007 season and capitalized with 12 wins to go along with their first SEC West championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
“When we won the SEC West, that moment really stood out for me,” Jones said. “I knew that was just one more step for our program toward where we all wanted to go. We started out four years ago with some small goals, and they have really built upon each other.”
Using the 2007 season as a building block, the Tigers entered the 2008 campaign with another goal ? reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and contending for their first ever overall SEC championship.
Returning nine starters, including Crawford and Jones as captains, afforded LSU the opportunity to pursue those goals. While the SEC championship is now out of reach with the Florida Gators clinching their third straight title last weekend, LSU can win the SEC West and lock up the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament with a win over Arkansas on Friday night, their highest in history.
This senior class understands that its legacy will be how the Tigers finish the 2008 season.
“Everything is pretty new for us. Right now, we’re second in the SEC and we control our own destiny for another SEC West championship with a win against Arkansas in our last home game. It’s another challenge we have to face,” Moseley said. “We just want the younger girls to build on this experience and keep it going in the future.”
That is exactly what the team has strived for from the outset.
LSU opened the 2008 season with a seven-game winning streak. The Tigers will head into their game against Arkansas with a 12-3-1 record and No. 14 national ranking by Soccer America.
“Everyone on the team has a leadership role,” Crawford said. “Every member of this team has played a role in our success this season. Sure, Roslyn and I are team captains, but we believe we all need to be leaders on and off the field to achieve the kind of goals we’ve set for ourselves.”
“The number of fans, quality of recruits and the higher level of competition have all fed off one another to make the program more and more successful,” Jones added. “You can really tell that this program has grown so much over the past four years. That’s something we’re very proud to have been a part of in our time here. We wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Each member of this senior class points to their work ethic as the reason for their success.
“Hard work gets you places,” Crawford said. “All the time and work we’ve put in has helped us to reach a higher place. We need to take it one step further these next few weeks.”
As the final buzzer sounds at the end of their last home game in an LSU uniform, Crawford, Jones and Moseley aren’t just leaving a field. They are leaving a legacy for the LSU soccer team they helped to create and are passing it on to all future Tigers who wear the purple and gold.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that this team owes Casey, Roslyn and Jackie a debt of gratitude for the way they have led this program during their careers,” Lee said. “The way they have represented not only themselves, but also their families and this university both on and off the field is what we expect of all student-athletes who choose to be a part of this program.
“I’m proud to have coached them and wish them all the best in the future. No one deserves to have the kind of success we now enjoy than these three young ladies.”