LSU Defeats Gamecocks 1-0; Clarke Scores in first minute

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By Stephanie Kraft

The Tigers (11-4-3, 7-2-1 SEC) earned their second win over a top 10 opponent by defeating 10th-ranked South Carolina last Sunday at the LSU Soccer Complex. The game was played in front of a national television audience on ESPNU.

Senior Melissa Clarke needed just 57 seconds to score what would prove to be the lone goal of the game. 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 sent the cross to an open freshman Carlie Banks standing about 10 yards out in the right side of the penalty area. Banks centered the ball into the middle of the box to Clarke, who finished the attack with a rocket of a shot inside the left post.

"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."

The match represents only the second time LSU has defeated the Gamecocks (15-2-1, 7-2-1 SEC) and its first since the first match of the series on Sept. 22, 1995.

Trailing for only the second time this session, the Gamecocks found themselves embedded in a defensive struggle for the remaining 89 minutes. 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.

"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."

South Carolina defender Ellen Fahey was booked with a straight red card with 33 minutes left to play after tripping Banks from behind. South Carolina's frustration was evident as both Blakely Mattern and Kim Miller were booked with yellow cards during the match.

South Carolina seemingly earned the equalizer, down a player following Fahey's ejection, in the 70th minute after senior Samantha Diaz-Matosas sent a corner kick into the box that found fellow senior Lindsay Small's head. Small pushed the header past Isom, but an LSU defender got the backline by an inch to preserve the LSU shutout

Clarke nearly added a second goal late in the second half with a shot that was saved by South Carolina goalkeeper Mollie Patton at the 86:00 mark of the match.

LSU's 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.

Nine seniors were honored 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.

LSU now sits in a tie for second place in the SEC with South Carolina; both sides having earned 22 points in SEC play this fall. Florida sits in first place with 23 points heading into its last regular season SEC game against South Carolina Friday in Gainesville. Because of the Florida-South Carolina match-up, 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.

Originally Published: Issue 821 - October 28, 2009

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