Da Boot Sports
9/29/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   STARKVILLE, Miss. – The LSU Soccer Team (7-4-1, 2-2-0 SEC) fell to No. 9 Mississippi State (9-1-0, 3-0-0 SEC) on the road by a final score of 2-0 on Sunday night.

   “We weren't good enough tonight in so many categories. We couldn’t really gain any footing until late in the game,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “Mississippi State is a very compact and organized team so all credit to them, they won the midfield battle tonight and outshot us. Now, we will regroup and go again next Friday against Auburn for a massive matchup at home.”

   “Audi Scheving had a fantastic game for us in dealing with both services in the box and tallying some fantastic saves. She is really finding her own in her first season with us. I also thought Caley Swierenga was good for us tonight.”

   The Tigers were defensively tested in the first half, and for the majority of the match, as State took 12 shots, with four of those being on target. LSU keeper Audi Scheving tallied three saves in the first half, not allowing the Bulldogs to take the early lead.

   LSU looked to find their momentum through the first half but were unable to record a shot on goal through the first 45. The first half ended scoreless, with neither team able to find the advantage as the Tigers held off the Bulldogs. 

   Mississippi State struck first to start the second half. Ally Perry got a shot off her right foot that bounced off the left post and into the goal for the Bulldogs in the 51st minute. She was assisted by Aitana Martinez-Montoya and Illana Izquierdo. 

   The Tigers continued to battle in the second half, but struggled to find opportunity on the other end of the field. Sophomore midfielder Gabbi Ceballos took the first and only chance for LSU in the 65th minute, but the shot was off target.

   The Bulldogs once again found the back of the net with just under three minutes remaining in the match. Ally Perry tallied her second goal of the night with a banger to the lower right that just got past LSU keeper Scheving. The goal by Perry extended the home team lead in the 87th minute.

   No. 9 Mississippi State was able to defend their home turf in Starkville, defeating LSU by a final score of 2-0. 

   Despite the loss, Scheving had a big performance in between the posts for the Tigers, finishing the match with six saves. She now has 33 saves on the year, amongst the best by any keeper in the conference. 

   LSU will head back to Baton Rouge for a one-match conference slate next week. The squad is set to welcome Auburn on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. CT on SECN+. Live stats, watch link and other home promotional items for the match can be found on lsusports.net. 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/26/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE, La. - The LSU Soccer team (7-3-1, 2-1-0 SEC) grabbed their second straight conference win of the year as they took down the Oklahoma Sooners (8-3-0, 1-2-0 SEC) by a score of 3-1 on Thursday night at the LSU Soccer Stadium. 

   “Anytime Matt Mott and the Sooners come to town, we know they are going to ask big questions of us and bring physical battles,” said LSU Head Coach Sian Hudson. “All credit to Oklahoma,  they did not stop playing until the last whistle. I felt we had a really professional display in the second half and just managed the game.”

   “Overall, I thought that we were great in the counterattack, which is something we’ve
stressed since the Arkansas game this past week. I think the team is playing really well at the moment and I am really pleased.”

   Sophomore forward Ava Galligan got the scoring started on the night in the 41st minute. Teammate Andrea Iljkic sent the ball through Oklahoma’s backline and found open space for Galligan to speed past two Sooner defenders. Galligan found herself in a one versus one with Oklahoma keep Caroline Duffy and calmly knocked the ball past her and into the back of the net.

   “I thought Ava Galligan was fantastic leading the line for us,” said Hudson. The goal was Galligan’s fourth this year and eighth in her career at LSU.


   The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the Tigers. LSU and Oklahoma both took three shots in the first 45 minutes, with the Tigers able to capitalize on one to take the early lead in Baton Rouge.

   Ida Hermannsdottir, already the Tigers leading scorer, added another goal to her resume as she extended the Tiger lead in the 60th minute. The junior forward battled her way in the box through multiple Sooner defenders until she found herself just in front of the visiting keeper. She was able to find open space and took advantage to make the game 2-0.

   “I wanted to be more goal driven this year and I think I’ve done that, but at the end of the day I just want our team to win and I’m so proud of them.” said Hermansdottir after the win Thursday night. The forward now owns seven goals this year and 18 in her career.


   After an unfortunate touch off the foot of Jazmin Ferguson, the Sooners got on board due to an own goal in the 72nd minute. The score was then 2-1.


   The Tigers did not let that affect them as the squad kept their foot on the gas in their attack. Ava Amsden notched her first goal in the Purple and Gold after being fouled in the box and converting a penalty in the 80th minute. The freshman extended the Tiger advantage to two goals on the night.

   “For Ava, not only to win the PK, but to step up as a freshman in that moment and slot it home, was fantastic.” said Hudson. 

   The Tigers won the match by a final score of 3-1, the most goals that the Sooners have allowed so far this season. Oklahoma outshot the Tigers 11 to five on the evening, but LSU was able to capitalize on their opportunities and find the back of the net in three of their four shots on target. Kelsey Major also tallied a shot on goal while Iljkic was credited the assist on Galligan’s goal. 

   LSU will conclude the week with a road visit to Mississippi State on Sunday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Live stats will be available on lsusports.net. 

   “We are looking at Mississippi State on Sunday, and we'll be ready for them, looking for our third win in a row. We know going into Starkville is going to be a difficult challenge. We have gone there in recent years and had a couple of really close losses, but we’re ready.” said Hudson.
​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/23/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE, La. - The LSU Soccer team (6-3-1, 1-1-0 SEC) captured their first SEC win of the season as they defeated Ole Miss (5-6-0, 0-2-0 SEC) by a score of 1-0 on Sunday night at the LSU Soccer Stadium. 

   “We’re thrilled to get the shutout.” said LSU Head Coach Sian Hudson. “I think we needed to make sure we kept a clean sheet in that game, especially going into halftime up 1-0. We talked about how the second half was going to be a different game, we knew Ole Miss was going to throw the kitchen sink at us. Full credit to them, they certainly did that and made it really difficult for us.

   “It was a great team effort on the defensive side of the ball to get the clean sheet, and all credit to Andrea (Iljkic). She has come up big for us with three unbelievably executed free kicks this season, and that one (her goal tonight) was the game winner.”

   LSU was in control for the majority of the match, as they put up 22 shots, with 10 of them being on goal, in comparison to the Rebels’ six shots. Despite the advantage on both shots and overall possession, the Tigers were only able to find the back of the net via a free kick goal from Iljkic. Ida Hermansdottir, Sage Glover and Mollie Baker led the way for LSU as they both had two shots on goal. Ava Galligan and Iljkic each tallied a shot on target as well. 

   Jazmin Ferguson, Sydney Cheesman, Jocelyn Ollivierre, Caley Swierenga and Tori Gillis, along with Tiger goalkeeper Audi Scheving, worked diligently on the defensive side of the ball, holding down the back line to keep the clean sheet on the night. It was LSU’s third clean sheet of the year. 

   “I think our box defending got a lot better tonight. We were competing first and second contacts in the box and winning the knockdowns and putting our bodies on the lines blocking shocks,” added Hudson. “We were putting dangerous balls in the box, and our box defending was much improved from previous games.”

   Hermansdottir took the Tigers first chance on goal in the 7th minute as she fired a piercing shot to the left of the Ole Miss goalkeeper Shu Ohba, but Ohba made a great save to deny Hermansdottir. 

   Just before the first half whistle, LSU’s Ava Amsden was fouled at the top of the box, giving the Tigers a great opportunity to score from a direct free kick. The set piece shooting specialist, sophomore Andrea Iljkic, stepped up and continued her trend of burying direct free kicks by bending the ball past the Rebels keeper to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The goal, which the Rebels’ Ohba had no chance to save, was Iljkic’s third goal from a direct free kick this season. 

   The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the Tigers and LSU outshot the Rebels in the first half 10 to 3. 

   The Tigers continued to battle in the second half, looking to extend their lead as Ole Miss looked for the equalizer. The remaining 45 featured back and forth competition from both sides with neither able to find the back of the net.  

   LSU took 12 more shots in the second half, moving their tally to 22 on the night. Ole Miss had only seven shots, with Scheving claiming saves on two of those attempts. Rebel keeper Ohba was called to action on nine different occasions throughout the match.

   Freshman Riley MacDonald tallied a shot on target in her first career appearance at LSU.

   The Tigers are slated to continue conference action at home against the Oklahoma Sooners at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, September 26 inside the LSU Soccer Stadium. 

   “The Sooners are in town (Thursday), with a coach in Matt Mott that has a ton of SEC experience. He used to be with Ole Miss, and we have had some battles in the past. Matt’s a fantastic coach, really experienced, and we will expect a really organized team. Their confidence will be high, but we are excited for the matchup, and building on the momentum from tonight will be key.”

   The Tigers will conclude the weekend with a visit to Mississippi State on Sunday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. CT. Both matches will be livestreamed on SEC Network+ and live stats will be available on lsusports.net. 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/20/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


​   FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The LSU Soccer Team (5-3-1, 0-1-0 SEC) dropped its SEC opening match to No. 3 Arkansas (6-0-1, 1-0,-0 SEC) by a score of 1-0 on Thursday night on Razorback Field.

   The lone goal of the night came in the 71st minute when Bella Field scored from eight yards out. Lily Boydstun played a long through ball to the right side of the box, where Ava Tankersley sent a ground cross to Field that rolled into the back of the net.

   “We are disappointed to come away without a point from tonight’s game. There were moments that I thought we were the better team,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “We had three or four good chances and high effort levels from our team across the board. To come to Arkansas and keep them down to one goal was massive for our defense. Now, we look forward to coming home and hosting Ole Miss on Sunday.”

   The match opened with neither side able to create chances in their attacking half. The first chance of the night came in the 21st minute when Avery Wren sent a powerful shot on goal from 15 yards out that was parried away by a diving Audur Scheving. 

   Scheving picked up three more saves before the half ended in the 35th, 41st and 44th minutes to help keep the Razorbacks goalless at the half. The Tigers had one shot on frame in the first half; a shot in the 43rd minute by forward Amy Smith that was saved by Arkansas goalkeeper Keegan Smith.

   The second half opened the same as the first with neither team able to create quality chances to start it. Defender Sydney Cheeseman had a sail off target in the 54th minute and midfielder Ava Galligan had a shot in the attack third blocked in the 59th minute.

   The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 71st minute. Boydstun pinged a long ball to the right wing that found Tankersley. Tanskersley sent a ball into the box and found Field, who had space and took one touch before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

   LSU chased for an equalizer in the final 19 minutes of the match. Keegan Smith was called into action in the 77th minute as she saved a shot on goal from Smith before the Arkansas goalkeeper once again denied the LSU attacker in the 86th minute. Those two shots on goal were the last two chances of the night from the Tigers, who could not find the tying goal they were looking for.

   The Razorbacks outshot the Tigers by a margin of 12-9, with Arkansas having six shots on goal against LSU’s three. Scheving finished the night with five saves, taking her season total to 21. 

   “Huge shoutout to Audi (Scheving) in goal tonight,” Hudson added. “I thought she was fantastic for us with some really big saves that kept us in the game. Tori Gillis also had a big performance after coming into the starting 11.”

   LSU will look to bounce back when the Tigers return to the LSU Soccer Stadium to host the Ole Miss Rebels at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 22nd. The match will be available via livestream on SEC Network+. Live stats and more information will be available on lsusports.net.



​   

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/15/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


​   DAVIS, Calif. – The LSU Soccer Team (5-2-1) fell to UC Davis (7-2-0) in their non-conference finale by a final score of 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. 

   It was a back-and-forth battle on the pitch in Davis that ultimately fell in favor of the Aggies in the last 10 minutes of play.

   “There was obviously a lot of different waves of momentum throughout the game. Initially, we were disappointed to conceded a goal early, but we a really spirited fight back to start the second half. ” said head coach Sian Hudson. “I thought that we were the team that was dominating possession, but we gave away a free kick that led to a goal for UC Davis.”
   “We concecded two late goals that was just poor defending on our part. All credit to them, they came out and had a good plan. We just have to be better in defending set pieces and box defending, and our focus will be on tightening up the backline before we head into a massive game against Arkansas next Thursday.”

   The Aggies found a breakthrough first in the match in the 13th minute, when midfielder Genavieve Fontes found the back of the net via a well-placed header past LSU’s Audi Scheving to make it 1-0. Sammie Ruelas provided the assist on the tally.

   LSU took seven shots in the first half, including a shot on target from junior defender Jocelyn Ollivierre and two chances from sophomore forward Ava Galligan, but the visiting Tigers couldn’t find the right moment. The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the Aggies. 

   The Tigers responded almost immediately to start the second half, with senior forward Mollie Baker gettting the first goal of the day for LSU and her first of the year in the 51st minute. Defender Caley Swierenga took the ball up the field to find midfielder Danielle Shannon, who then got it to the feet of Baker for the finish at the top of the 18 yard box. Baker’s goal equalized the game at 1-1 and marked her eigth career goal. 

   In the 68th minute, Aggie midfielder Ashleigh Garcia fouled LSU’s Shannon at the top of the box, and the Tigers were given a free kick within shooting range. The free kick was given to forward Andrea Iljkic, who stepped up and made no mistake, lacing a curling shot into the left side of the net that gave the Aggie keeper no chance to save. The goal was Iljkic’s second of her career and her second goal from a direct free kick this season, with her first coming against Old Dominion. 

   It was a 2-1 Tiger lead with just over 20 minutes to play in Davis. 

   “Mollie Baker an Andrea Iljkic scored two fantasic goals for us. It was an absolute belter from Mollie Baker to get us back into the game and then a great piece of play to earn the free kick with a fantastic finish from by Andrea,” said Hudson. 

   Ten minutes later, UC Davis scored two goals in quick succession to reclaim the lead.  Jayde Holley-Davis scored to make it 2-2, and Sam Tristian scored just two minutes after to make it 3-2 in favor of the Aggies. 

   LSU once again responded as Sage Glover found the 3-3 equalizer in 82nd minute via a pass from Shannon. However, UC Davis found the back of the net almost instantly after the LSU goal and reclaimed the lead once again, making it 4-3 in favor of the Aggies. Ashleigh Garcia provided the assist for the Aggies’ fourth goal.

   “That was another great piece of play from Dani (Shannon) in the lead up to the finish by Sage Glover,” added Hudson. The squad’s third goal from Glover marked her second this year and 10th of her career at LSU. 

   The Tigers battled until the finish in Davis, outshooting the Aggies 13 to eight on the day with seven shots on target from Ollivierre, Galligan, Ceballos, Glover, Iljkic and Baker. Shannon recorded two assists on the day, her firsts of the season after recently scoring her first career goal in the squad’s last match against San Francisco. 

   LSU completed their non-conference slate in California with a record of 4-1-0 on the road, the program’s best away record since 2021, as the team heads into conference play next week.


   The Tigers will return to action on Thursday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. CT, as they are set to open SEC play against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville. The match will be livestreamed on SEC Network+. Live stats and more information will be available on lsusports.net.




​   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel   GEAUX TIGERS!!!
​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/13/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


​   SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The LSU Soccer team (5-1-1) began their West Coast road trip with a win as they defeated San Francisco (3-4-0) by a score of 4-1 on Thursday night in Negoesco Stadium.

   “Overall, the team’s effort in the first half was fantastic. San Francisco has frustrated some really good teams across the West Coast so far this season, so to come here tonight and score four goals on them was a testament to our attacking prowess,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “On the defensive end of the field, I thought Audi (Scheving) had two really big moments for us tonight. I’m really pleased to see her get into her own before SEC play starts next week. Gabbi (Ceballos) also played a huge part.”

   Junior forward Ida Hermannsdottir opened up scoring on Thursday night in the 14th minute. Gabbi Ceballos sent a through ball to the feet of Hermannsdottir, who broke through the back line of defenders and confidently took a shot right over San Francisco keeper Kira Ybarra to give LSU the 1-0 lead. The goal marked her fifth of the season and 16th of her career. The assist was Ceballos’s second of the year. 

   Midfielder Danielle Shannon claimed her first career goal at LSU in the 30th minute of the match. A pass from Amy Smith found the feet of Shannon at the top of the box, who then sped past three defenders and took a left footed shot that found the upper left. 

   Ava Galligan wanted one for herself as she tallied a goal nearly two minutes later. The sophomore took a shot from the outside wing that just got past Ybarra and extended the Tiger lead on the night. It was Galligan’s third goal of the year and seventh in her career.

   The Tigers came out hot and outshot the Dons eight to five, with four on target, as the first 45 minutes ended 3-0 in favor of LSU. 

   The Dons took 11 shots in the second half in an attempt to close the gap, but only four were on target with three of those being denied by LSU keeper Audi Scheving.

   San Francisco got on the board late in the second half when forward Natalie Drotzmann found the back of the net to make the score 3-1. Erika Braun provided the assist on the goal. 

   Ida Hermannsdottir put the match to rest in the 84th minute when she scored her second goal of the evening to extend the Tiger lead, 4-1. With that goal, Hermannsdóttir achieved her second brace in two consecutive matches.

   “The final goal there was crucial for us just to put the game to bed,” Hudson added. “Ida is in great form and is playing fantastic for us right now. She is a catalyst in our attack.”

   LSU will conclude non-conference play on the West Coast against UC Davis on Sunday, September 15 at the Aggie Soccer Field. The match will start at 2 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats will be available on lsusports.net. 

​

Da Boot Sports
9/8/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE – The LSU soccer team (4-1-1) put on a strong second half performance highlighted by a brace from junior midfielder Ida Hermansdottir to defeat UL-Lafayette (4-1-3) by a score of 3-1 on Sunday night at the LSU Soccer Stadium. 

   “I think it was just a really important night for us to get a win. Obviously, there is state pride on the line against a rival like ULL. 
I thought they came out with a really good game plan and stifled us early in the game,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “We just had to be patient in possession and continue to create chances and just have the belief that we were going to find goals there.”

   “We had a lot of opportunities tonight; a lot of goal entries and hit the crossbar a couple of times. We are just really happy to get the win and now we look forward to a big weekend over in California next week.”

   LSU handed UL-Lafayette their first loss of the 2024 campaign on Sunday night. The Ragin’ Cajuns were undefeated in their first seven matches and had also only conceded four goals, making LSU’s three goal tally that much more impressive. 

   The first half started slow as both teams tried to find their momentum and put the first goal on the board. Hermansdottir and forward Sage Glover both recorded shots on goal early in the first half for the Tigers, but both shots were saved by ULL’s goalkeeper Natalie Mayes.

   In the 22nd minute, midfielder Danielle Shannon fired a shot from distance that was just inches from flying into the net.

   UL-Lafayette opened the scoring in the match in the 25th minute, when Ragin’ Cajuns midfielder Lucy Ortiz slotted home a ball past LSU goalkeeper Audi Scheving. Megan Bradley provided the assist on the opening goal. 

   In the 34th minute, Tigers freshman forward Amy Smith blasted a shot on goal at ULL’s Mayes, but Mayes made a great save to keep the powerful effort out of the net. 

   The Tigers outshot the Ragin’ Cajuns 11 to three in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net as the first half ended 1-0 in favor of UL-Lafayette. 

   LSU was inches from tying the match in the opening seconds of the second half as Mollie Baker laced a shot onto the left side of the goal, but ULL’s Mayes was up for the challenge and made an excellent save to deny Baker of the equalizer. 

   LSU found the breakthrough they were looking for in the 60th minute of the match. Midfielder Gabbi Ceballos took a clearance from a Ragin’ Cajun and fired a beautiful shot from just outside the top of the box past Mayes to tie the match and make the score 1-1 on the night.

   “The first goal from Gabbi Ceballos was absolutely crucial for us. She's had a fantastic weekend all around, and it was so great to see her get her first goal in Purple and Gold,” said Hudson.

   It was her first goal in the Purple & Gold since transferring to LSU. Ceballos recently tallied her first assist in the squad’s last match against Utah, and she now adds a goal to her stat line in the same week.

   LSU’s Sage Glover shook off an earlier injury in the first half and almost put LSU ahead in the 64th minute, when she hit the top of the crossbar with a shot from the left side of the Ragin’ Cajun goal. 

   In the 78th minute, LSU’s midfielder Danielle Shannon was brought down in the box to win a clutch penalty kick for her team by the head referee. Ida Hermansdottir stepped up to the spot and blasted the penalty past ULL’s Mayes, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.


   Just thirteen seconds after the penalty was scored, Hermansdottir took advantage of a mistake from Natalie Mayes. Mayes played the ball right to the feet of Hermansdottir, and all she had to do was chip the ball over the ULL keeper for her second goal of the match and to extend the Tiger lead to 3-1. 

   “Ida just smashed home the penalty kick. 
And then what a second goal. She had so
much composure to put one over the keeper there just 13 seconds later,” Hudson added.

   Hermansdottir’s back-to-back goals were only 13 seconds apart, breaking the LSU records for both the quickest time between goals scored and the quickest time between goals scored by one player. The Reykjaciv, Iceland native now owns 15 goals in her career as she tallied the first brace of the year for the Tigers. 

   The previous record of quickest goals scored was held by two separate pairs of goal
scorers: Ashley Mitnick and Rachel Cohen vs. Alabama on 10/13/2000, along with Roslyn Jones and Rachel Yepez vs. Memphis on 9/6/2007. The one player record was previously held by Melissa Clarke, who scored two goals in a span of 38 seconds against Arkansas on October 31st, 2008. 

   LSU came out strong in the final 45 minutes of the match, not to mention a clutch performance from Hermannsdottir, scoring all three of their goals in the second half. 

   The Tigers finished the night with a season high 29 shots against the Cajuns, with 12 of those being on target on combined efforts from Hermannsdottir, Ceballas, Glover, Smith, Galligan and Baker.

   LSU will head out to the West Coast in the upcoming week for a two-game slate in California. The Tigers will take on San Francisco on Thursday, September 12, at 8 p.m. CT, and UC Davis  on Sunday, September 15, at 2 p.m. CT. Both of the matches will be streamed live on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on lsusports.net.

 Da Boot Sports
9/6/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   “I thought we had a really spirited second half performance,” said LSU Head Coach Sian Hudson after the match. “We had a big conversation at halftime and just talked about pressing high up the field and raising our line of confrontation. I thought the girls had a tremendous second half performance, and in the end, I thought we were unlucky not to win the game.”

   “I want to give a big shoutout to Gabbi Ceballos. I thought she was fantastic for us in the heart of midfield tonight. She had her first points of the season, an assist on Sage’s composed finish to get us back level. She had some fantastic box entries and got great service deliveries from Sydney Cheesman.” 

   Utah got on the board first in Thursday night’s match in the 9th minute when Bella Woods found Taliana Kaufusi with a pass through the middle. Kaufusi successfully rounded LSU goalkeeper Audi Scheving and slotted the ball home to give the Utes an early 1-0 lead.

   LSU’s only shot on goal in the first half came in the 16th minute, when midfielder Ida Hermansdottir dribbled past a Utes defender and fired a shot into the hands of Utah goalkeeper Erin Gibbs. The shot was true, but Gibbs made a great effort to parry the strike away.

   The first half ended in favor of the Utes, 1-0. LSU forward Ava Galligan had two shots in the first half  to accompany Hermansdottir’s lone shot on goal.

   The Tigers came out of the locker room and struck almost immediately to make the match 1-1. Just two minutes into the second half, midfielder Gabi Ceballos found forward Sage Glover on the left edge of the 18-yard box, and Glover carefully slotted the ball home past Gibbs for the tying goal.

   Defender Caley Swierenga also earned a piece of the action on Glover’s goal, as she started the play by getting the ball to Ceballos, who then found Glover. Swierenga earned her first assist of the year and third in her career.

   It was Glover’s first goal of the year and ninth in her career at LSU.

   In the 66th minute, Utah forward Brooklyn Baylock had a good chance to score and fired the ball onto the net, but LSU’s Audi Scheving made no mistake and made a save to keep the score level.

   A VAR review was conducted in the 74th minute on a potential penalty due to a handball, but the head referee Matthew Thompson saw no infraction from Utah.

   LSU saw another opportunity to take the lead in the 83rd minute when forward Mollie Baker had a chance to score on a header, but it was right on goal and Utah’s Gibbs made the save with ease. 

   “All credit to Utah, they came in here and played a great game tonight, and we wish them all the best for the season.”

   The Tigers ultimately outshot the Utes 19 to eight on the night, but the squad just couldn’t find the advantage. LSU keeper Scheving was only tested once throughout the match, while the Tigers tested the Utah keeper on five separate occasions. 

   LSU will return to their home pitch on Sunday, September 8, as they are slated to take on UL-Lafayette for an in-state battle at 6 p.m. CT inside the LSU Soccer Stadium. The match will start at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on SEC Network+. Live stats will be available on lsusports.net. 


​

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.​

Da Boot Sports
9/1/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   Norfolk, Va. – The LSU Soccer Team (3-1-0) defeated Old Dominion (3-2-0) by a score of 2-1 on Sunday night in the ODU Soccer Stadium.

Sophomore forward Ava Galligan scored the game winner for the Tigers in the 85th minute to secure the Tigers second road win of the week.

“We were really happy to get two wins out of the weekend, especially after the delay at tonight’s game,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “Overall, it was a great response from the team this weekend. You can’t ask for more than six points on the road.”

The first 45 minutes of the match on Sunday consisted of a back and forth battle between the Tigers and the Monarchs, with neither team able to find the go-ahead. 

Forward Mollie Baker tested the Old Dominion goalkeeper Emily Bredek early as she took a shot not even five minutes in. Angelina Thoreson took the first shot on target for the Tigers, while Ava Galligan, Andrea Iljkic and Baker also tallied shots on goal.

LSU outshot Old Dominion six to one in the first half, but neither team was able to get on the board and the first half ended scoreless in Norfolk.

The Tigers came out hot to start the next 45 minutes. Midfielder Kelsey Major scored just five minutes into the second half, earning her first goal of the year and third of her career. Galligan sent a cross into the box that found the feet of Major, who took a touch and found the finish to put the Tigers on the board first. 

The Monarchs responded 10 minutes later as Rhea Kijowski scored to even the match in the 60th minute.

The rest of the match consisted of an intense battle between the Tigers and the Monarchs as both teams looked for the advantage. In the 85th minute, Sydney Cheesman took a free kick that found the head of Galligan, who beautifully placed the ball in the back of the net for the game winner. 

“I’m so happy for our two Virginians on the roster. Ava Galligan got an assist and the match-winning goal, and then Tori Gillis at the other end with two massive goal line clearances. It was great to see them have massive performances in their home state.”

The Tigers came out on top in Norfolk to earn another three points on the road, totaling six points over the weekend. 

LSU took seven more shots in the second half, moving their total to 13 on the night, while Old Dominion tallied six shots.

Tiger goalkeeper Audi Scheving recorded two saves in the 76th and 88th minute. Already the team assist leader, Cheesman tallied another in Norfolk to move her total to four on the year.

LSU heads home for a two-game home stretch against Utah at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, September 5 and UL-Lafayette at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 8.


​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
8/29/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


​   Lowell, Mass. - The LSU soccer team (2-1-0) began their East Coast road trip on a high note as they defeated UMass Lowell (1-3-0) by a score of 3-0 on Thursday night on Cushing Field.

   “The most important part of today was the team’s response and getting back in the win column,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “The worth ethic, chemistry, and desire in the group showed tonight. There were some really good performances tonight, but overall it was a massive team effort.”

   The victory marked LSU’s first over UMass Lowell as the Tigers bounced back from last week and got back in the win column.

   LSU had three shots in the first 10 minutes of the match, with two of them on target. Forward Angelina Thoreson took the first shot on goal for the Tigers, while Danielle Shannon also tallied two attempts at River Hawk’s keeper Taylor Burgess.

   The Tiger offense kept the foot on the gas as they looked for the first goal of the match. Forward Ida Hermannsdottir took a strong attempt in front of the goal in the 17th minute that was saved by Burgess.

   It was in the 19th minute that Thoreson found the first goal of the match to put LSU on the board first in Thursday’s match. Sydney Cheesman took a corner that found the feet of Jaden Humbyrd toward the back of the box. Humbyrd passed it to Thoreson, who ripped it in one touch to the upper left and past the River Hawk keeper.

   “It was a fantastic finish from Thoreson in her second career goal,” said Hudson. “Obviously she missed last year due to injury, so it was great to see her find the finish and get herself off the mark this season.”

   The Tigers saw a few more first half shots from Cheesman, Jazmin Ferguson, Ava Galligan, Aurora Gaines, Ava Amsden and Thoreson. 

   LSU kept the 1-0 lead going into halftime, tallying 17 shots. The River Hawks did not record a shot on Tiger keeper Audi Scheving in the first 45 minutes.

   Galligan took a shot on goal early in the second half to get the action started before Amy Smith extended the Tiger lead in the 55th minute. The freshman took the ball down the left side of the pitch and finished in a one versus one with the River Hawk’s keeper. It was her first collegiate goal to make the score 2-0. 

   WIth 10 minutes left on the clock, the Tigers did not take their foot off the gas. Forward Andrea Iljkic scored a banger in the 82nd minute, earning her first career goal in the Purple & Gold. Iljkic stepped up to take a free kick from the top of the box, and she made no mistake with her attempt as it flew straight into the top right hand corner of the net, giving Burgess no chance at making a save. 

   Iljkic’s goal made it 3-0 on the night as LSU secured the win on the road. The Tigers finished the match with 29 shots, with 13 being on goal, and one assist from Humbyrd.

   “I am thrilled for Amy Smith and Andrea Iljkic for securing their first goals in the Purple & Gold,” said Hudson.

   Scheving played the full 90 minutes in between the posts for the Tigers, recording her second clean sheet in only three matches with the help of the LSU defense.

   Thoreson led with a team high three shots on goal on the night, while Shannon and Cheesman followed with two. The TIgers had nine different players take a shot on target in total. 

   LSU will conclude their East Coast trip on Sunday, September 1, as they are slated to travel to Norfolk, Virginia to take on Old Dominion at the ODU Soccer Complex. The match will start at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats will be available on lsusports.net. 

 

Da Boot Sports
8/25/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE –- The LSU Soccer team (1-1-0) fell in their 2024 home opener against Arizona State (2-0-2) by a score of 5-2 on Sunday night in the LSU Soccer Stadium.

   “Obviously, we’re incredibly disappointed. It’s not the way we wanted to open our season
at home,” said LSU Head Coach Sian Hudson. “I thought it was a really positive start, getting a goal in the first couple minutes, but we just had a lapse of concentration and let them get back into the game.”

   The Tigers started the match on the right foot and struck first just under the three minute mark, but the Sun Devils continued to battle back the full 90 minutes. Arizona State’s Cameron Valladares recorded two goals and two assists. For LSU, Ida Hermansdottir and Jazmin Ferguson both shined as they found their names on the scoresheet.

   Defender Sydney Cheesman claimed the assists on both of LSU’s goals for the night.

   “We created a lot of chances from set pieces, and despite the result, there is still a lot of promise right now in terms of ability to score goals, but priority number one is to tighten up defensively and make sure we do not concede at that level.”

   LSU wasted no time after kick-off to get amongst the goals. The Tigers won a corner just three minutes into the match, and Cheesman placed a perfect cross into the box that was met by midfielder Hermansdottir, who guided the ball into the back of the net with a perfect header to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

   A minute later, Arizona State equalized the match via a goal from forward Cameron Valladares.

   In the 18th minute of the match, the Tigers once again capitalized from a set piece to gain the advantage, as Ferguson blasted a pass from Cheesman into the back of the net, which was good for Ferguson’s second goal of the season and Cheesman’s second assist of the match. 

   Ferguson now owns as many goals as she’s played at LSU.

   Arizona State once again found an equalizer in the 25th minute, as a clearance from LSU’s Ferguson caught goalkeeper Audur Scheving off guard and resulted in an own goal to make the score 2-2, ending the first half.

​   The Sun Devils started off the second half hot with two quickfire goals. Valladares recorded her second goal of the evening in the 52nd minute of the match off an assist from Kiera Blundell to make the score 3-2. Arizona State extended their lead five minutes later and made it a 4-2 game off of a goal from Enasia Colon that was assisted by Valladares. 

   In the 64th minute, Enasia Colon once again found the back of the net to make the score 5-2. The goal was assisted by Valladares and Keri Matthews.

   Scheving, Cheesman and Caley Swierenga played the full 90 minutes for the Tigers on Sunday. Scheving finished the night with two saves. 

   Seven Tigers tallied a shot on goal as LSU tried to fight back in their home opener. Danielle Shannon, Sage Glover, Mollie Baker, Amy Smith and Ava Galligan all gave efforts at the Arizona State’s keeper, along with Ferguson and Hermannsdottir. Baker took a team high seven shots in total.

   The Tigers couldn’t find another chance to extend their scoring on the night, ultimately falling to the Sun Devils in a battle in Baton Rouge.

   LSU will return to the pitch on Thursday, August 29th, to take on UMass Lowell on the road. The game is slated to start at 5 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted live on ESPN+. Live stats will be available on lsusports.net. 

   “As we look ahead to our Boston trip, we are really excited to get on the road and head up to the Northeast. We have two really important games against UMass Lowell and Old Dominion.”




​

Photos By: Paige Luper

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
8/16/2024
Article courtesy of: Crescent City Sports
By: Lenny Vangilder


   Ed Daniels, a New Orleans native who launched the city’s first-ever high school sports television show as part of a five-decade career telling the stories of Louisiana sports, died Friday from complications after a cardiac event last month. He was 67.Daniels spent 11 days in a Los Angeles-area hospital before being flown back to New Orleans on August 5.

   Before the term multimedia journalist became commonplace in the media industry, Daniels had his hands in the three major forms of journalism.

   Daniels’ primary home was television, where he spent more than 40 years coming into the homes of New Orleans sports fans – first at WDSU-TV and the last 33 years at WGNO-TV, where he would become the station’s first and, until now, only sports director.


   In 1992, just after Daniels’ arrival at WGNO – which was still an independent station at the time – he launched Friday Night Football, the first-of-its-kind show in New Orleans focusing on highlights of that night’s games. Hall of fame coach J.T. Curtis has served as co-host and analyst on FNF since the show’s inception.

   Never afraid to express an opinion, Daniels was a sports columnist for the Clarion Herald for nearly two decades – where he took over the columnist space of his one-time boss at WDSU, Buddy Diliberto – and served as a regular contributor to Crescent City Sports and its previous iterations since their launch in 2008.

   On radio, he spent his Saturday mornings for the better part of three decades co-hosting the Three Tailgaters show on a variety of frequencies – most recently at 106.1 The Ticket – with his high school and college classmate, Ken Trahan. Additionally, he served a stint as a radio analyst for Saints preseason games, New Orleans Night Arena Football games and University of New Orleans men’s basketball broadcasts.


   While many sports departments in the area would focus their attention on professional and college sports and national stories, Daniels made it a point to promote the efforts of high school athletics.

 
   FNF’s success led to two other shows – Friday Night Sports, which covered winter events, and Friday Night Fastball, which featured baseball, softball and other spring sports.

   Daniels’ impact on high school sports wasn’t limited to television.

   In 2011, Daniels and former Riverside Academy coach Timmy Byrd teamed up to launch the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic basketball tournament. Originally a tournament for 16 boys teams, the event grew to five different brackets for boys and girls last winter.
The success of the basketball event spawned similar events in baseball and 7-on-7 football. An in-season event for volleyball is scheduled to debut this fall.


   Additionally, when many of the LHSAA select and non-select state championships were split at different locations, the organizing group behind the National Prep Classic hosted girls basketball state semifinals and finals at the Alario Center in February 2022.

   Daniels’ career at WGNO featured much more than covering prep sports. Before the station began its news operation in 1996, he served as host of a game show, “N.O. It Alls,” produced by former NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff. Additionally, when Minor League Baseball returned to New Orleans in 1993 in the form of the Zephyrs, WGNO acquired television rights and Daniels served as the TV play-by-play voice of the team during its early years.

   Daniels was a three-time recipient (1997, 2014, 2018) of the Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year, voted on by his peers and awarded by the National Sports Media Association, and received the Press Club of New Orleans’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

   Archbishop Rummel High School, his alma mater, honored him in 2013 with induction into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame – an honor he shared with his classmate and lifelong friend, Trahan. He is also a member of De La Salle’s athletic hall.


The outpouring of support for Daniels after his cardiac event was immense.

   A rosary on the evening of July 31 at St. Philip Neri, where Daniels and his wife Robin were parishioners, drew hundreds of voices praying together for a recovery.

   Others like LSU coach Brian Kelly and Tulane coach Jon Sumrall – who could almost always count on having Daniels in attendance at their media availabilities – mentioned Daniels by name to open their first news conferences of preseason practice.

   Daniels graduated from Rummel in 1975 and earned his communications degree from Loyola University in 1979.

   In addition to his wife, Daniels is survived by five children and five grandchildren.

​   Funeral arrangements are pending.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
8/16/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   Mobile, Ala. – The LSU Soccer team kicked off the 2024 season on a high note as they defeated the South Alabama Jaguars by a score of 3-0 on Thursday night in The Cage. 

   “I’m just really excited. I think anytime you can get a win in your opening game is great," said head coach Sian Hudson.

  "We’ve really pushed the girls in preseason and we certainly put it away there in the opening minutes. I don’t think you can ask for much more than going three-nil up in 10 minutes in your opening match. Overall, we got the season off to a great start.”

   The last time LSU started the season with a win on the road was in 2015, when they defeated Oregon by a score of 2-1 in Eugene. 

   The Tigers came out hot in Mobile as sophomore Ava Galligan claimed the first goal of the year. Junior Sage Glover sent a through ball to the feet of Galligan at the top of the 18-yard box, who then found the finish not even five minutes into the season opening match.

   “It was great to see Ava Galligan get on the scoresheet early,” said Hudson. “She was one of our top performers last year, and to get her off in the races early is always good.”

   After a brief video assistant referee (VAR) review, junior Ida Hermannsdottir was awarded a penalty kick following being fouled inside the box. She calmly found the lower left to give the Tigers the 2-0 lead in Mobile. 

   Junior transfer Jazmin Ferguson secured her first goal in the Purple & Gold via a headed ball off of a corner kick from fellow defender Sydney Cheesman in the 11th minute. The Tigers had the 3-0 lead over the Jaguars just 15 minutes into their first regular season match of the year. 

   "That was probably the most exciting goal of the night," said Hudson. "We struggled with set pieces last year, so to get that goal on a header from a corner great."

   The first half ended in favor of the Tigers, 3-0. Goalkeeper Audur Scheving recorded four saves during the first period of play in her first start with the Tigers.

   LSU stayed in control during the second half, continuing to shut down the Jaguars as they did an excellent job of limiting chances by South Alabama. Scheving added another two saves to her tally to bring her total for the game to six.

   Ten Tigers made their debuts in the Purple and Gold this evening. Ferguson had a great start to her LSU career with her goal early in the first half, while Sydney Cheesman held down the defense with 69 minutes on the pitch in her start for the Tigers. The freshmen who saw action for the first time included Ava Amsden, Emerson DeLuca, Annaleigh Bruser and Aurora Gaines. 

   LSU handed South Alabama their first home loss since September 2, 2021. The Jaguars had a record of 17-1-4 at home since 2021 and before tonight’s loss. 

   “The most important thing for us after going up three-nil was the clean sheet. We used a lot of players tonight and now we’ve got a nice 10 day stretch to continue to work on our team chemistry that we’ve put in place.”

   The Tigers will take the pitch again on Thursday, August 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT for their Purple vs. Gold Scrimmage at the LSU Soccer Stadium. The exhibition match will give Tiger fans a chance to get an early look at this year’s squad before the squad’s 2024 home opener on Sunday, August 25th, at 7:00 p.m. against the Arizona State Sun Devils. 

   The match against Arizona State will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and live stats will be available on lsusports.net.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
8/14/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   ​Mobile, Ala – The LSU Soccer Team kicks off the 2024 season against South Alabama at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, August 15 inside The Cage.

   “We are so excited to get our 2024 journey off and running. Our pre-season trip was fantastic and we believe we have started to lay a foundation in our culture that will bring a togetherness and camaraderie that will carry us to success this season,” said head coach Sian Hudson.

   “There's incredible energy in this team that has been building since the spring and we can’t wait to see it in a competitive setting for the first time against South Alabama. They will be an organized team, led by a coach I respect a lot in Chris Hennessy. It will be a great first test for us on the road, but we’re excited to rise to the occasion and set the tone for what’s going to be a thrilling season!”

  The season opening match between the Tigers and the Jaguars will be streamed on ESPN+. The watch link and live stats link can be found here.

The Opponent

   LSU owns a record of 7-5 against South Alabama as the squad prepares to open the season against the Jaguars in Mobile. Led by Chris Hennessey, the Jaguars are coming off a successful campaign in 2023, in which they posted a 16-1-3 overall record, 8-0-2 conference record and won their seventh Sun Belt regular season title.

   The two teams last faced off in 2021, when the Tigers defeated the Jaguars 2-1 on the road in Mobile. LSU has won five of the six matches against South Alabama, including the last two road competitions. 

Preseason Watchlist

   Five Tigers on the LSU Soccer squad were named to the 2024 SEC Soccer Preseason Watchlist. A total of 88 student-athletes were named to this year’s watchlist, as Mollie Baker, Jazmin Ferguson, Ida Hermannsdóttir, Ava Galligan and Sydney Cheesman are the Tigers to keep an eye on this year.

   Baker, Hermannsdottir and Galligan all return to LSU this year, while Ferguson and Cheesman transferred to the team this spring and enter their first season in the Purple and Gold.

   A captain and leader on this year’s LSU squad, Baker enters her final season with the Tigers in 2024. The Gilbert, Arizona native was the only player to appear and start in all 20 matches for the Tigers last year. The forward tallied three goals, five assists, and 1,551 minutes on the pitch while earning United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team honors in 2023.

   A native of Reykjivic, Iceland, Hermannsdottir continues to be one of the top midfielders to watch in the nation. She enters year three at LSU with 11 goals, four assists and 2,366 minutes in her career.

   Galligan, a dual forward/midfielder out of Ashburn, Virginia, enters her second year with the Tigers after a breakout debut season in 2023. She recorded four goals, five assists and played in all 20 matches in her freshman season. 

   Ferguson joined the squad from East Carolina University, where she spent two seasons and was the 2023 American Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year. A native of Conyers, Georgia, she will serve as a vice captain on the squad as she enters her junior season this upcoming fall. United Soccer Coaches named her a defender to watch in 2024.

   Cheesman is a defender out of Lafayette, Colorado, who transferred to LSU from the University of North Carolina, where she tallied 175 minutes on the pitch in her nine games played and helped lead the Tar Heels to two NCAA Tournament appearances. The defender was rated four stars by Top Drawer Soccer in the recruiting rankings in 2022 prior to starting her collegiate career at UNC. 

The Coaching Staff

   Hudson enters her fifth season with the Tigers this year. Since beginning her tenure at LSU in 2019, she has propelled the program to unprecedented success alongside Associate Head Coach Seb Furness, who joined the coaching staff that same year.

   Joining them on staff is Assistant Coaches Antony Blackburn and Conor Cable. Blackburn is a native of Derby, England, who initially joined the Tigers in Fall 2023 as an analyst. He will primarily assist with session planning and delivery, individual development plans, and opposition preparation. Prior to LSU, Blackburn served as Head Coach of Valencia C.F. U14’s (Valencia, Spain), one of the most prestigious academies in the world of professional soccer.

   Cable joins the Tigers from Lake Erie College, where he spent five years helping lead the storm to new heights. Cable will primarily lead the LSU goalkeeping unit and oversee LSU Soccer community service and outreach events. 

   The Spalding, England native brings a wealth of experience to Baton Rouge from both his previous work with the Lake Erie goalkeeping unit and his own professional experiences. Cable came through the professional system in England, playing for a variety of Premier League and Championship Clubs including Norwich City and Cardiff City, and spent his youth academy days at Bristol City Football Club.
 
   Under Hudson's leadership, the LSU Tigers achieved significant milestones during the 2023 season, marking their ninth NCAA Tournament appearance and third consecutive postseason showing—the most straight appearances by a coach in LSU history. Notably, Hudson secured her first LSU NCAA Tournament victory with a first-round win against Lamar on November 11, 2022.

   This upcoming season, Hudson and her staff will look to earn her fourth consecutive and LSU’s 10th overall NCAA appearance. The Tigers also hope to secure the program’s 14th ten-win season while in pursuit of an SEC and national championship.

   Attendance is another important component for the Tigers, as Hudson and her staff are striving to set new attendance records inside the LSU Soccer Stadium in 2024. Three of the program's top ten largest crowds occurred under Hudson’s tenure.

   “I’m committed to working tirelessly alongside my staff and team to achieve the success our Tiger fans deserve,” said Hudson. “Witnessing the growth of soccer in Louisiana during my time here has been incredibly rewarding, and we want to continue to build on that each year.”

The 2024 Roster


   This year’s team is a mix of youth and experience. The roster is made up of 29 players, with one graduate student, two seniors, seven juniors, nine sophomores and 10 freshmen.

   Mollie Baker and Jaden Humbyrd will lead the squad as captains this year, while ECU transfer Jazmin Ferguson will serve as the vice captain. 

   LSU has welcomed four new transfers for this upcoming season in Ferguson, Cheesman, Sophine Kevorkian (USD) and Gabbi Ceballos (TCU).

   The veteran seniors include Baker, Humbyrd and Tori Gillis, who all enter their final season with the Tigers this year. 

   Kevorkian, Ferguson, Hermannsdottir, Cheesman, Jocelyn Ollivierre, Angelina Thoreson and Sage Glover make up the junior class. 
Thoreson returns to the pitch this year after sitting out of the 2023 season due to injury. 

   The sophomores on the squad are Ceballos, Danielle Shannon, Kelsey Major, Audur Scheving, Caley Swierenga, Andrea Iljkic, Ava Galligan, Brielyn Knowles and Alyson Campbell.

   The freshmen class includes Riley MacDonald, Amy Smith, Annaleigh Bruser, Katelyn Holt, Emerson DeLuca, Ava Amsden, Aurora Gaines, Senai Rogers, Sarah Stadler and Natalie Dvorakova.  

   The addition of Scheving to the squad brings LSU’s total to four internationals on the roster. She is the second player to become a Tiger from Reykjavik, Iceland, along with Hermannsdottir. Other countries represented on the squad are Sweden and Czechia. 



The 2024 Schedule

   LSU officially kicks off the new season against South Alabama on Thursday, August 15 in Mobile. The Tigers schedule this year features eight matches inside the LSU Soccer Stadium.

   The Tigers home opener is set for Sunday, August 25th against Arizona State. The squad will also welcome Utah, UL-Lafayette, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Auburn and Texas to Baton Rouge before concluding home play against Vanderbilt on Thursday, October 24.

   LSU will travel to face University of Massachusetts Lowell, Old Dominion, San Francisco, University of California Davis, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Texas A&M and will close out the regular season at Missouri on Sunday, October 27. 

   The squad will compete against 10 SEC opponents throughout the regular season this year,
​including the newest league members Texas and Oklahoma.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
7/18/2024
Courtesy of: Crescent City Sports
By: Rene Nadeau


   LSU made a major splash in recruiting circles today by reeling in a pledge from 5-star defensive back D.J. Pickett from Tampa, Florida. The Tigers may not exactly come from the back of the pack, but they managed to maneuver wisely in the past couple of months, making up significant ground by securing a commitment from the highly coveted prospect.It wasn’t until January 2024 that the Tigers became a legitimate contender. That’s when assistant Corey Raymond returned to the fold. The coach and prospect have shared a special bond dating back to the time Raymond was an assistant for the Florida Gators.
   Rated as the #1 safety, the 6’4″, 180-pound Pickett is skilled enough to line up at cornerback, safety, or in the slot. With quick twitch reflexes and off-the-chart coverage skills, he is termed as a true game changer. He has run the 100 meters in 10.62 seconds, the 200 meters in 21.66 seconds, while boasting a 22’7″ long jump.
   A two-way performer at Zephyrhills High School, he accounted for 31 tackles and one interception defensively, while grabbing 52 passes for 1,033 yards and 15 scores on offense.
   LSU was competing with Miami and Oregon among the finalists. Oregon had closed the gap most recently and was perceived as the favorite as late as yesterday, having just secured pledges from wide receiver Dakorien Moore and cornerback Dorian Brew. Oregon secondary coach Chris Hampton also played a major role in the process.
   To secure the Florida native, the Miami Hurricanes pulled out all stops to keep Pickett at home. Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and secondary coach Chevis Jackson, the former LSU star cornerback, rolled out the red carpet. D.J.’s cousin, edge rusher Booker Pickett, was a 2024 signee with the Hurricanes.
   At one time, Ohio State was in the thick of the sweepstakes. D.J.’s uncle, Ryan Pickett, played for the Buckeyes from 1998 to 2000 and was a 1st-round selection of the Rams in 2001. He was a member of the Super Bowl champion XLV Green Bay Packers.
   The Tigers could receive additional good news within the next few days from 4-star cornerback Jaboree Antoine, a one-time LSU pledge who is set to make his decision July 20. Antoine, a product of Westgate High School, is the Louisiana’s top-rated cornerback and its 2nd-ranked 2025 overall prospect.
​