DURHAM, N.C. — The LSU soccer team played an outstanding game defensively against top-ranked North Carolina on Friday afternoon but dropped a tough 1-0 decision to the Tar Heels in the first game of the Duke Nike Classic hosted by Duke University at Koskinen Stadium.
The Tigers saw their five-game unbeaten streak snapped as they dropped to 4-2-1 on the season, while the Tar Heels improved their record to a perfect 7-0 following the first ever match between the two sides.
LSU played outstanding defense to keep North Carolina off the scoreboard for 77 minutes of play but that is when junior forward Jessica McDonald put the Tar Heels on top with the only goal of the match in the 78th minute of play. McDonald fired a header into the back of the net from the top of the six-yard box on a cross into the penalty area by sophomore forward Brittani Bartok.
While North Carolina attempted 17 total shots on the afternoon, the Tigers limited the Tar Heels to only a total of six shots on goal in 90 minutes of play. North Carolina attempted 10 corner kicks on the afternoon to just two corner kicks for the Tigers.
“This was a good, positive step forward for us this season. I thought it was a great effort from the entire team for the full 90 minutes,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “We’re certainly not happy with the result, but North Carolina is an outstanding team and without a doubt the No. 1 team in the country. I thought we were very good defensively, and we have a lot of build upon from this game.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Mo Isom was outstanding in goal for the Tigers as she saved five shots on the day while leading LSU’s defensive effort.
LSU was unable to find a rhythm on offense as North Carolina has now held opponents off the scoreboard in its last 583 minutes of game action. Sophomore midfielder Taryne Boudreau attempted three shots with one shot on goal for the Tigers, while senior forward Rachel Yepez added a pair of shots with one shot on goal of her own. Freshman Natalie Ieyoub also attempted one shot in the match.
The sides went into the halftime break scoreless despite the Tar Heels controlling possession for much of the first half. North Carolina outshot the Tigers by an 11-2 margin in the first half, including a 3-1 edge in shots on goal, while attempting four corner kicks in the period.
Isom made an outstanding save in the first minute of the contest while diving to her left as All-American forward Casey Nogueira nearly put the Tar Heels on top early with a wide-open strike from just inside the top of the area to the right post. Isom was in position to make the save and keep the game scoreless.
McDonald gave North Carolina the best opportunity to take the lead in the opening half with a rocket shot off the right post from 20 yards out in the 23rd minute of play.
The Tigers will return to the pitch on Sunday afternoon for the finale of the Duke Nike Classic as they go up against the tournament host Duke Blue Devils at approximately 1 p.m. CT at Koskinen Stadium. LSU will then return home next weekend for the opening weekend of SEC play as they play host to Georgia on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. followed by a home match against Tennessee on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.