BATON ROUGE — The LSU soccer team scored four first-half goals and turned in another outstanding defensive performance en route to a dominating 5-1 victory over the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Sunday afternoon at the LSU Soccer Complex.
After routing the No. 8-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Friday night, LSU (6-2-2, 2-0-0 SEC) picked up its first ever sweep on the opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play.
It also marks the Tigers’ second victory all-time against Tennessee (5-4-1, 1-1-0 SEC) as they run their unbeaten streak to three games this season.
The Tigers took the lead in the seventh minute of play when Rachel Yepez initiated a give-and-go with Melissa Clarke down the left side and dribbled into the box before rifling a strike into the far post from 10 yards out. Yepez followed with her fifth goal of the season just two minutes later by slipping a shot past a diving goalkeeper from just inside the six-yard box.
The offensive outpouring came despite a switch in formation that resulted in the Tigers using just one striker instead of their traditional two as an adjustment to Tennessee’s lineup.
“We’ve got a versatile attack,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “That was the appropriate move for today. I think it speaks well of our team that we can take out Carlie Banks, who had a hat trick on Friday, and still be up 2-0 nine minutes in. We did a good job of keeping up the pressure.”
The LSU midfield controlled possession throughout the first half and created numerous scoring opportunities. Malorie Rutledge notched her fifth assist of the season after beating a defender to a ball in the corner and sending in a cross that was headed in by Kellie Murphy for her first goal of the season. Murphy gave the Tigers a comfortable 3-0 at the 29:26 mark.
The LSU offense converted one more first-half opportunity 10 minutes later at the 40:07 mark as Rutledge dribbled through the Tennessee back line yet again before firing a strike inside the left post from just eight yards out for her fifth goal this year.
While switching to a three-forward attack in the second half, Tennessee looked to cut into Tigers lead, but saw many of their opportunity cleared away by the LSU defensive back line. The attack paid off, however, when the Lady Volunteers were awarded a free kick in the 82nd minute. Senior Mick Imgram scored her sixth goal of the season on a 30-yard blast to deny LSU the shutout.
But LSU would regain its four-goal advantage in the 86th minute when freshman Tricia Johnson scored her second goal on the weekend. After Natalie Ieyoub fired a shot on goal that was saved by Tennessee goalkeeper Molly Baird, Johnson pounced on the rebound and ripped a shot into an open net to give LSU a 5-1 victory.
LSU outshot Tennessee in the match by a 12-11 count, including a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. The Tigers and Lady Volunteers each attempted three corner kicks on the afternoon.
The Tigers will return to the pitch next weekend as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday at 7 p.m. CT. They will then follow with a trip to Auburn, Ala., to battled SEC Western Division rival Auburn on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.