LSU Gold

Soccer Takes on Vanderbilt in Nashville

by Aaron Hyder | Assistant Communications Director
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Soccer Takes on Vanderbilt in Nashville

Baton Rouge, La. – The LSU soccer team will play its eighth road match of the season on Friday night in Nashville, Tenn., as they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (RV). First kick for the match is at 7 p.m. CT and will be aired on SECN+.

LSU at Vanderbilt | Oct. 18 | 7 p.m. CT

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Series History

LSU and Vanderbilt have met on the soccer pitch 21 times previously. Vandy holds the all-time series advantage with 11 wins; the Tigers have won seven times and there have been three draws. LSU’s last win against Vanderbilt came in 2013 in Nashville, a 2-1 win in overtime.

Vanderbilt Scout

Vanderbilt comes into the match with a top-10 defense in the NCAA as they have only allowed a total of six goals this season for a goals averaged against mark of .421 to rank No. 9 in the NCAA. LSU’s backline will have their hands full with the leading goal scorer in the SEC in Haley Hopkins. She has scored 10 goals this year to rank atop the conference in that category alongside Arkansas’ Anna Podojil. Lauren Demarchi (648 minutes) and Taiana Tolleson (668 minutes) have split time in net all year long. Demarchi is the usual starter with a GAA of 0.14 and Tolleson mans the net in the second half with a GAA of 0.29.

Emma Grace Goldman

Goldman has been up to task this season in net for the Tigers consistently being challenged. Her 83 saves on the season lead the SEC and she is saving an SEC high 6.38 shots per match. She had one of the all-time great LSU performances in net against Georgia on Sept. 26 as LSU earned a 1-1 draw thanks in large part to her performance. She made 16 saves in that match, the second most in LSU single game history alongside Shelli Montevirgen’s 16 save match against Georgia in 1996. The 16 saves were one short of the LSU school record set by Bonnie Otillio in 1999 against Oklahoma. Goldman has started 13 matches for the Tigers and has a save percentage of .776 to rank seventh in the SEC; her 16 saves against Georgia are the most by any keeper in the league this season.

Tough Schedule

After Sunday’s game against Alabama, opponents that LSU have played this year own a combined record of 113-56-30 for winning clip of .643. Only 11 other teams in the NCAA have played a more difficult schedule to date. LSU’s final four opponents that they have yet to play own a combined record of 32-21-6 (.593 winning percentage).

Fresh Faces

The Tigers have played as many as seven first-time players on the pitch at once this season. A total of 9 players have made their LSU debuts this season. Maddie Moreau is the lone first-year player to start all 14 matches. Rammie Noel (13 starts), Emma Grace Goldman (13 starts), Meghan Johnson (11 starts), Anna Rockett (6 starts), Maya Gordon (7 starts), Sydney Lau (1 start), and Maddison Martin (1 start) have all earned the first starts of their career this season as well. Hannah Cuneo (7 matches) and Makenzie Maher (9 matches) have all earned their first playing time for the Purple and Gold this season. Jade Clarke made her first start of the 2019 season and the 17th start of her career on Oct. 3 against Auburn.

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