RALEIGH, N.C. – In a Monday matinee that actually wrapped up 4 hours, 3 minutes after the opening kickoff due to a more than two-hour weather delay between halves, the LSU soccer team dropped a tough 1-0 decision to the NC State Wolfpack on the front end of a double header at the Dail Soccer Stadium.
The Tigers dropped to 1-2 on the season in their third game of a five-game road swing to open the season, while the Wolfpack remained perfect on the campaign while improving its record to 4-0.
Not only was the start of the second half delayed by more than two hours with severe thunderstorms at the NC State campus, but the opening kickoff was also delayed by 13 minutes due to lightning in the area.
“I thought we came out pretty choppy to start the game and dug ourselves a hole that we just could not get out of,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “We were much better coming off the delay, and really created a number of great chances for ourselves in the second half. I thought their goalkeeper was the difference for the game. She came up with probably three or four tremendous saves over the course of the game.”
The Wolfpack scored the only goal of the match in the 34th minute of the first half following a corner kick as senior defender Alex Berger netted her team-leading third goal of the campaign.
After LSU senior defender Kellie Murphy headed the ball out of danger on the initial service into the area from the right corner flag, Berger took possession of the clearance near the midfield circle and floated her service back into the box while trying to keep the pressure on the Tiger defense. The threat appeared to be silenced when LSU sophomore goalkeeper Megan Kinneman came out and positioned herself near the top of the six-yard box while waiting to snatch the ball out of the air.
But as Kinneman reached up for the catch, the ball popped out of her hands and bounded over the line for Berger’s third game-winning goal of the 2011 season and a 1-0 lead for NC State at the 33:54 mark.
Senior Natalie Martineau gave the Tigers the best opportunity to take the early lead on a breakaway about midway through the first half. Sophomore left back Alex Ramsey served a beautiful ball over the top as Martineau broke free of the NC State back line. Martineau then gathered possession and took two touches before trying to bend her 16-yard strike around the NC State goalkeeper and inside the right post.
But Martineau’s curling attempt was deflected out of play beyond the end line for a LSU corner kick by a diving Kim Kern to stifle the Tiger attack and preserve the scoreless tie.
Following a lengthy weather delay, the Tigers came out flying in the second half while turning up the heat on the NC State defense with a number of quality chances in the run of play.
Junior striker Carlie Banks nearly equalized right out of the break in the 48th minute on a class one-on-one effort with the NC State right back. After taking possession of the ball on the left wing, Banks raced to the end line before cutting to the inside and firing a right-footed strike from 10 yards that was destined for the right corner of the net. But Kern dove to her left and deflected the ball out of play for a corner kick.
Freshman striker Alex Cook followed with her own opportunity in the 52nd minute of play by nearly tying the score on a shot from eight yards that sailed just over the crossbar. After controlling a centering pass by Banks near the penalty spot, Cook sprung free one-on-one with Kern but fired a shot high as the NC State keeper charged off her line to challenge the attempt.
Martineau lead another attack just minutes later while running free down the left flank. After getting open on the end line, Martineau centered a low lining cross to a wide-open Addie Eggleston standing near the top of the six-yard box. But the one-timer by the sophomore striker misfired wide right and out of play.
The Tigers follow Monday’s contest with a trip to Houston, Texas, on Friday to battle the Rice Owls in an anticipated match-up that is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Rice Soccer Stadium. LSU will then end its five-game road swing with a return trip to Houston on Tuesday, Sept. 6 to face the Houston Cougars in a match that will kick off at 7 p.m. at Houston’s Robertson Stadium.