Senior Alex Arlitt Takes On a Variety of Roles for LSU Soccer
Young teams always look for a leader, and LSU soccer coach Brian Lee will look no further than Alex Arlitt.
Arlitt has what it takes on the field. A three-year starter and All-SEC caliber player, her qualities in the midfield and on defense are sure to settle a young, but talented, Tiger team that has already kicked off the 2014 season. But despite being the lone senior on the squad, she will not carry the leadership weight alone.
“Coach Lee really likes to see that all the leadership responsibilities are not just on the seniors,” Arlitt said. “We’re really trying to get rid of the whole class distinguishing thing and not worrying about who is a senior or freshman. We are one team, and we let the leadership from the team come naturally.”
Her role from a junior to a senior has changed, and Alex talks about handling that with her coach.
“Coach and I have a good relationship, as he does with the rest of the team. We’ve talked about what I need to do to be a better leader, and I need to become a more vocal leader for the team while also leading by example,” she shared.
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She has done a great job of leading by example so far in her career. The Houston native is also a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, and she is studying accounting with an eye on graduating with her degree in 2015.
Her performances on the field have also accredited her as a leader since she splashed onto the scene as a freshman. She was one of 11 to earn 2011 SEC All-Freshman honors and started each match in her debut season with the Tigers.
Arlitt followed with an exceptional sophomore season, displaying her skills while playing four different positions in the midfield and back line. She once again started every match, highlighted by the 2012 season opener in which she scored the game-winning goal in extra time to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman.
Arlitt settled into defense a year ago while starting 20 matches. She has started each of LSU’s 64 matches since her debut in 2011, and she will take on whatever role is required for her team to win.
“I’ve played a lot of different positions over the course of my career. I never complain and try to do my best no matter where I’m at on the field,” Arlitt said. “If Coach needs me to start, come on as a substitute, play up or play as a defender, I’ll play the part.”
Arlitt is also looking to provide an example for an outstanding crop of recruits joining the Tigers this fall. It’s a heralded class that earned a No. 7 national ranking from TopDrawerSoccer.com in the wake of National Signing Day in February.
Lee recently spoke about new players at the team’s annual media day before their season opener.
“We have a great group joining us this year, and a great group coming back to really help them make that jump to competing at this level,” Lee said. “It’s a class that gives us a little more than maybe we’ve had in the past with more size and physicality to help us in the air, along with great athleticism and technical skill.
“Hopefully they will help us defend better on set pieces and chip in a few goals on the offensive end from set pieces and corners that maybe we haven’t gotten in the past.”
With the base of the team built on a young core of underclassmen, Tiger fans can look for Arlitt to lead the Tigers in what is sure to be an exciting 2014 season.