BATON ROUGE — The 25th-ranked LSU soccer team was unable to overcome a 2-0 first-half deficit and dropped its 2009 regular season opener to the Memphis Lady Tigers on Friday night at the LSU Soccer Complex.
Memphis struck first just over 16 minutes into the match when reigning Conference USA Offensive MVP Vendula Strnadova ran unmarked into open space and fired a shot from 20 yards out at the top of the penalty area and into the top corner of the goal.
The offensive surge by Memphis continued when forward Ashley Berra gathered the pass in the left side of the box before pivoting around an LSU defender and firing a low shot just inside the near post to stretch the lead to 2-0 at the 23:45 mark.
LSU’s offensive effort was stymied throughout the night by a Memphis defense that kept the home side without a shot on goal for 90 minutes. LSU managed just five shots on the night to 13 total shots by Memphis.
“Memphis man-marked to start the game, which really took our forwards out of play,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “They were just playing tough and aggressive You have to give their team a lot of credit by the way they played and the effort they showed for all 90 minutes. We didn’t match their intensity from the opening kick.”
LSU was unable to match its performance from the preseason when it registered a big 2-1 win over 15th-ranked Texas in an exhibition match on Aug. 14.
“They played with midseason or postseason effort and we played with preseason effort,” Lee said. “Memphis is a team that’s been in the NCAA Tournament as Conference USA champions, and certainly they’re not someone you should be taking lightly. I don’t know if we did that tonight, but we clearly did not match the effort they showed.”
After allowing two early goals, LSU’s defense regrouped and prevented Memphis from increasing their lead. Sophomore goalkeeper Mo Isom tallied four saves on the night and the LSU back line extinguished each of Memphis’ late chances with timely clearances.
“Hopefully, it’s a good learning experience,” Lee said. “It’s disappointing because we have a veteran team, but at the end of the year, it’s just one game. It’s just a starting point and something to get better from. We’ll be ready to go next Friday.”
LSU will have the opportunity to bounce back next week as they host Southern Miss in a 7 p.m. kickoff at the LSU Soccer Complex on Aug. 28.