BATON ROUGE – A goal by senior striker Melissa Clarke just 57 seconds into the match was all the scoring the Tigers would need as the 14th-ranked LSU soccer team earned a 1-0 shutout of the 10th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon at the LSU Soccer Complex.
After gaining possession of the ball just inside the midfield stripe, Clarke played the ball to senior All-American Malorie Rutledge streaking down the left flank.
Rutledge then played a perfect left-footed cross to an open freshman Carlie Banks standing about 10 yards out in the right side of the penalty area. Banks then made a nifty step over move and centered the ball into the middle of the box to Clarke, who finished the attack with a strike inside the left post after continuing her run deep inside the attacking third.
The goal, which was scored just 57 seconds into the match, was LSU’s earliest of the season. The previous standard was a goal that came just 2 minutes, 3 seconds into the Tigers’ 6-0 victory over Georgia. Clarke’s goal proved to be the game-winner as the side battled for the final 89 minutes.
The Tigers (11-4-3, 7-2-1 SEC) earned their second win of the season against an opponent ranked among the top 10 teams in country as they also shutout then No. 8 Georgia by a 6-0 margin in the Southeastern Conference opener on Sept. 25.
It also marks LSU’s second win all-time against the Gamecocks (15-2-1, 7-2-1 SEC) and its first since the first match of the series on Sept. 22, 1995.
“It was a very nice buildup that Melissa really created near midfield,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “Malorie got to the end line and whipped the ball in. I thought Carlie was composed to lay it off for Melissa for the shot. It was a very nice finish by her to give us the early lead. They have an outstanding team, and this is certainly a big win for our season.”
Clarke nearly added a second goal late in the second half with a strike that was saved by a diving South Carolina goalkeeper Mollie Patton at the 86:00 mark of the match. While working the right sideline, Clarke played the ball to Banks near the top of the box who then played a one-touch pass back to Clarke running free in the right side of the area. Clarke’s near post shot was denied.
Sunday’s match proved to be a defensive struggle throughout as LSU outshot South Carolina by a 10-5 margin, while both sides managed three shots on goal on the afternoon. The Gamecocks led the way with a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Sophomore goalkeeper Mo Isom made two saves on the afternoon to earn her 10th shutout this fall to set a new LSU single-season record. It was also her 17th career clean sheet in an LSU uniform.
South Carolina played the final 33 minutes of the contest with only 10 players as defender Ellen Fahey was booked with a straight red card after tripping Banks from behind running past the back line. Blakely Mattern and Kim Miller were also booked with yellow cards during the match.
“The entire back four played great,” Lee said. “I thought Nikki Bush was outstanding throughout, and Katherine Lagow played her best game of the season. Chelsea Potts has been great for us this season. She has a burning desire for us to be successful. I really thought the three seniors starting on the back line were tremendous today.”
LSU honored nine seniors prior to the match as part of Senior Day festivities as Clarke, Rutledge, Bush, Lagow and Potts joined Amanda Carreno, Brittany Lowe, Rachel Yepez and manager Nathan Minion in the pregame ceremony.
The victory gives LSU new life in the SEC title race as they currently sit in a tie for second place on the league table with South Carolina as both sides have secured 22 points in SEC play this fall. Florida holds the top spot in the standings with 23 points heading into its regular season finale on Friday night. The SEC regular season champion will not be determined until next weekend.
The Tigers can clinch their third-straight SEC Western Division championship with a win Friday as they travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at 7 p.m. CT.
