LAFAYETTE, La. ? Senior All-American and Hermann Trophy candidate Malorie Rutledge led the charge with two first-half goals to pace the LSU soccer team to a 4-0 shutout of the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the Ragin’ Cajuns Soccer Facility.
The Tigers are now unbeaten in their last five matches as they improve to 4-1-1 on the 2009 season, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have yet to break into the win column as they drop to 0-6-1 overall.
“I thought we were good in the attack and created several very good chances to score in the run of play,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “I also thought it was big for us to get our bench involved today and to see a number of kids play extended minutes over the course of the match. It was another step in the right direction for our team as we head into conference play in a few weeks.”
Rutledge gave LSU an early 1-0 lead in the match with her second goal of the season in the 15th minute of the first half with a shot into an empty net from inside the six-yard box.
Freshman forward Carlie Banks led the attack with a class run through the Cajun defense into the left side of the penalty area and fired a shot from approximately 12 yards that was saved by goalkeeper Lauren Berlingo. Banks pounced on the rebound and fired another shot on goal that was saved, but deflected right to Rutledge standing inside the six-yard box. Rutledge finished the attack with a shot into an empty net.
Rutledge followed with her second goal of the game and her third goal of the season to push the LSU lead to 2-0 with just over a minute to play in the first half.
Junior defender Courtney Alexander found Rutledge patrolling the back post with a beautiful service from her left back position. Rutledge slipped behind the Cajun back line and fired a one-touch shot past a diving keeper and inside the far post from the right side of the six-yard box.
“Malorie just continues to show why she is one of the best players in the country,” Lee said. “You can see her getting better with each game, and she scored two great goals for us today. We’re a dangerous team in the attack when she is on top of her game. She certainly was today.”
The Tigers wasted little time in extending their lead over the Cajuns to 3-0 in the second half as freshman forward Reyna Lubin netted the first goal of her collegiate career in the 62nd minute. Lubin battled for the possession of the ball with a Cajun defender inside the box and ripped a low shot inside the left post from approximately eight yards out directly in front of the net.
And in a stroke of brilliance, sophomore Taryne Boudreau provided the final margin in the 4-0 win with a long-range strike from 30 yards after running onto the loose ball and unloading a rifle shot in the top right corner of the goal at the 82:35 mark for her first goal of the season.
The Tiger defense was outstanding once again in limiting the Cajuns to just six total shots on the day. Mo Isom only needed to save one shot to record her fourth shutout of the season and 11th of her LSU career.
LSU was dominant from the opening kick as it outshot the Cajuns by a count of 19-6, including a decisive 13-1 edge in shots on goal. The Tigers also attempted eight corner kicks to just one for the Cajuns.
“We look forward to a great week of practice after getting two results this weekend. We knew that would be important for us going forward,” Lee said. “Our kids are getting better and better with each game. That is the most important thing as we get ready for the start of SEC play at the end of the month. I’m proud of the team for going on the road today and getting an important win.”
The Tigers will head back on the road next weekend as they travel to Durham, N.C., to compete in the Duke Nike Classic. They will battle the defending NCAA champion and No. 1-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday at 4 p.m. CT followed by a match against the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.