Da Boot Sports
2/28/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   BATON ROUGE – The No. 10 LSU Beach Volleyball went 3-0 Friday with wins over North Alabama, ULM, and South Florida at the LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium. This marks the first program win against USF.The Sandy Tigs will compete in two matches on Saturday, starting at 10:30 AM CT against UT Martin, then closing out the weekend against Southeastern at 2:15 PM. After the weekend, the Tigers are back on the road to Monroe, Louisiana for the ULM Bayou Bash, March 7-8.
   
   “Excited to get back to work tomorrow,” said head coach Russell Brock. “We played really well on a lot of courts and saw some good pairings. I thought today was very productive. Looking forward to continuing to improve on Saturday!”
   
   LSU began the day with a 4-1 victory over North Alabama in their morning match to start the day off 1-0. Evers and Campbell lost Court 5 to give UNA their only points of the match; 21-23 and 21-17. Skylar Martin and Finlason took care of business to tie the match at one winning Court 4; 21-9, 21-13.
   
   Gabi Bailey and Bracken put up point number two on Court 1 with a win in straight sets; 21-18 and 21-12. Emily Meyer and Chatellier clinched the match on Court 3 with a win in two sets; 21-17 and 21-18. Aubrey O’Gorman and Sprecher won Court 2 in three sets; 23-21, 14-21, and 15-9.
   
   After a break, the Sandy Tigs were back in the sand and defeated ULM 4-1. Evers and Yali Ashush lost Court 5; 19-21, 21-15 and 9-15. Finlason and Martin evened up the match with a win on Court 4; 23-21 and 21-19.
   
   Bailey and Bracken gave the Sandy Tigs a two-to-one lead with a straight-set win on Court 1; 21-10, 21-18. Meyer and Chatellier clinched the match with a win on Court 3; 21-17, 21-14. O’Gorman and Sprecher finished off the match with a win on Court 2; 23-21, 21-17.
   
   For the final match of the day, LSU faced South Florida and won 4-1. Meyers and Martin got the first point on the board for LSU winning Court 4; 21-13 and 21-10. Evers and Kate Baker followed in their footsteps, winning Court 5; 21-17 and 21-10.
   
​   Finlason and Chatellier clinched the match on Court three winning; 21-15 and 21-15. Bailey and Bracken won Court 1; 21-15 and 21-13. O’Gorman and Sprecher lost Court 2 in three sets; 18-21, 21-19 and 7-15.


LSU 4, UNA 1

1. Parker Bracken/ Gabi Bailey (LSU) def. Katy Floyd/ Selma Robinson (UNA) 21-18, 21-12
2. Aubrey O’ Gorman/ Julia Sprecher (LSU) def. Ryenne Gepford/ Pein Grooters (UNA) 23-21, 14-21, 15-9
3. Camryn Chatellier/ Emily Meyer (LSU) def. Paige Griner/ Auroa Bibolotti (UNA) 21-17, 21-18
4. Tatum Finlason/ Skylar Martin (LSU) def. Mabrey Whitehead/ Lucy Wedding (UNA) 21-13, 21-10
5. Hailey Benesz/ Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) def. Elle Evers/ Gracey Campbell (LSU) 23-21, 21-17

LSU 4, ULM 1

1. Gabi Bailey/Parker Bracken (LSU) def. Kaitlyn Beck/ Madeline Marquez (ULM) 21-10, 21-18
2. Aubrey O’Gorman/ Julia Sprecher (LSU) def. Abby Ryno/ Claire Williamson (ULM) 23-21, 21-17
3. Emily Meyer/ Camryn Chatellier (LSU) def. Maggie Cox/ Katie Felts (ULM) 21-17, 21-14
4. Tatum Finlason/ Skylar Martin (LSU) def. Gracie Behneke/ ZsaZsa Ferguson (ULM) 21-9, 21-13
5. Kobie Fowler/ Bailey Hope (ULM) def. Elle Evers/ Yali Ashush (LSU) 21-19, 15-21, 15-9

LSU 4, South Florida 1

1. Gabi Bailey/ Parker Bracken (LSU) def. Ola Stadnik/ Sam Crossby (USF) 21-15, 21-13
2. Audrey Gauthier/ Bella Almeida (USF) def. Aubrey O’Gorman/ Julia Sprecher (LSU) 21-18, 21-19, 15-7
3. Tatum Finlason/ Camryn Chatellier (LSU) def. Mia Sheepens/ Morgan Anderson (USF) 21-15, 21-15
4. Emily Meyer/ Skylar Martin (LSU) def. Alyx Zapatka/ Cornelia Crudu (USF) 21-13, 21-10
5. Elle Evers/ Kate Baker (LSU) def. Ryann Genest/ Bailey Chin (USF) 21-17, 21-10

​

​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
2/22/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   Hattiesburg, MS. – The No. 8 LSU Beach Volleyball team finished up their trip at the Beach Burg Invitational, going 4-1 overall. Freshman Julia Sprecher earned her first win in an LSU jersey with the win over North Alabama.The Sandy Tigs are back at the LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium next weekend, February 28–March 1, for the Tiger Beach Challenge. LSU will host North Alabama, ULM, South Florida, UT Martin, and Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers will face all five teams over the course of the weekend.
   “Today was a great day for the team,” said head coach Russell Brock. “We had a lot of great performances and it was the first time our Beach Fam hype squad made their presence known. I love when we play well and when we celebrate our team well. There were a lot of really good pairs there this weekend to play against and we got some great results and some really good feedback on where we are.”
   The Sandy Tigs started off the day strong with a clean sweep against North Alabama. Tatum Finlason and Skylar Martin put the first point on the board in dominant fashion, winning Court 4; 21-10 and 21-8. Elle Evers and Gracey Campbell followed in a similar fashion, winning Court 5 in straight sets; 21-12 and 21-18.
   Aubrey O’Gorman and Sprecher earned their first win as a pair in straight sets on Court 2; 22-20 and 21-13. Courts 3 and 1 went to three sets, with the Sandy Tigs coming out on top to complete the sweep. Gabi Bailey and Parker Bracken won Court 1; 21-17, 20-22 and 15-11, while Emily Meyer and Camryn Chatellier won Court 3; 15-21, 21-19 and 15-11.
  After a break, LSU continued their winning streak with a 4-1 win over Southern Miss. Evers and Campbell came out swinging, winning Court 5 in straight sets; 21-8 and 21-10. Finlason and Martin put up the second point for the Tigers, winning Court 4, 21-19 and 21-11.
   Meyer and Chatellier came out on top on Court 3 in straight sets; 21-11 and 21-17. O’Gorman and Sprecher lost a three-set battle on Court 2 to give Southern Miss their only point of the duel; 13-21, 21-18 and 10-15. Bailey and Bracken rounded out the match with a hard-fought three-set win on Court 1; 22-20, 23-25 and 15-10.
   The Tigers finished off the day with a sweep over Spring Hill College. Evers and Campbell moved to Court 4 and took care of business winning; 21-12 and 21-14. Kate Baker makes her 2025 season debut with Finlason on Court 5, winning in three sets; 21-15, 20-22 and 15-10.
   Bailey and Bracken followed in their footsteps, commandingly winning Court 1; 21-8 and 21-13. Meyer and Chatellier put up point number four with a three-set win on Court 3; 21-11, 15-21 and 15-10. The Court 3 pair went undefeated over the course of all five matches this weekend. O’Gorman and Sprecher completed the sweep with a straight set win on Court 2; 21-14 and 21-18.
“I know we made big improvements as we went through the weekend and there is no doubt we will have a great week of training heading into our first home event of the season,” said Brock.


No. 8 LSU def. North Alabama, 5-0

1. Parker Bracken / Gabi Bailey (LSU) def. Selma Robinson / Katy Floyd (UNA) 21-17, 20-22, 15-11
2. Aubrey O’Gorman / Julia Sprecher (LSU) def. Ryenne Gepford / Pien Grooters (UNA) 22-20, 21-13
3. Camryn Chatellier / Emily Meyer (LSU) def. Paige Griner / Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) 15-21, 21-19, 15-11
4. Skylar Martin / Tatum Finlason (LSU) def. Lucy Wedding / Hailey Benesz (UNA) 21-10, 21-8
5. Gracey Campbell / Elle Evers (LSU) def. Hope Dicken / Mabrey Whitehead (UNA) 21-12, 21-18

No. 8 LSU def. Southern Miss, 4-1

1. Parker Bracken / Gabi Bailey (LSU) def. Zuzanna Michalska / Madison Cassidy (USM) 22-20, 23-25, 15-10
2. Laurel Dennis / Sadie McAda (USM) def. Aubrey O’Gorman / Julia Sprecher (LSU) 21-13, 18-21, 15-10
3. Camryn Chatellier / Emily Meyre (LSU) def. Y-Nhu Do / Dylan Russell (LSU) 21-11, 21-17
4. Skylar Martin / Tatum Finlason (LSU) def. Jaden White / Kitija Mar Adamsone (USM) 21-19, 21-11
5. Gracey Campbell / Elle Evers (LSU) def. Giovanna Gurg Bahia / Ryann Thomas (USM) 21-8, 21-10

No. 8 LSU def. Spring Hill, 5-0

1. Parker Bracken / Gabi Bailey (LSU) def. Jaylyne Bell / Brooke Borgmeyer (SHC) 21-8, 21-13
2. Aubrey O’Gorman / Julia Sprecher (LSU) def. Kamble Frenette / Marissa Peck (SHC) 21-14, 21-18
3. Camryn Chatellier / Emily Meyer (LSU) def. Ally Lane / Elizabeth Hardouin (SHC) 21-11, 15-21, 15-10
4. Gracey Campbell / Elle Evers (LSU) def. Ashlyn Whiteside / Reagan Huff (SHC) 21-12, 21-14
5. Kate Baker / Tatum Finlason (LSU) def. Emma Grace Payne / Addisyn Tolbert (SHC) 21-15, 20-22, 15-10

​

Da Boot Sports
2/21/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   Hattiesburg, MS. – The No. 6 LSU Beach Volleyball team began its season Friday afternoon at the Beach Burg Invitational with a win over Florida Gulf Coast and a close loss to No. 6 FSU. Freshmen Camryn Chattelier and Elle Evers, along with sophomore Tatum Finlason and junior Gracey Campbell, all secured their first collegiate wins across both matches today. Meanwhile, veteran returner Parker Bracken reached a career milestone, earning her 80th win in an LSU uniform.
   
​   The Sandy Tigs will compete in three matches on Saturday, starting at 12:20 PM CT against North Alabama. LSU will then take on Southern Miss at 4:40 PM before closing out the day with a duel against Spring Hill at 6:50 PM. After the weekend, the Tigers will return to Baton Rouge to host the Tiger Beach Challenge from February 28 to March 1.

   “Proud of how we responded to some really challenging conditions this morning,” said head coach Russell Brock. “The first match of the season is always a little tough, but the whole goal is to win that first one and we earned that first win.”

   LSU began the day with a 3-2 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in their morning match to start the season 1-0. Evers and Campbell started things off for LSU with a strong two-set win on Court 5; 22-20 and 21-10. Skylar Martin and Finlason lost Court 4, going into extra points in the second set; 16-21 and 20-22.

   Gabi Bailey and Bracken put up point number two on Court 1 with a dominant win in straight sets; 21-11 and 21-16. Emily Meyer and Chatellier clinched the match on Court 3 with a win in two sets; 21-16 and 21-14. Aubrey O’Gorman and Sprecher lost a three-set battle on Court 2; 21-13, 19-21 and 15-17.

   “The second match was actually played much better against a solid opponent,” said Brock. “That’s a match that you’d love to win early in the season, and we played well enough to most of the time, but didn’t quite have enough to finish.”

   After a break, the Sandy Tigs returned to the sand to face No. 6 Florida State, falling in a hard-fought match that was ultimately decided in a third set on Court 1. Evers and Campbell lost Court 5; 13-21 and 19-21, while Finlason and Martin got the first point on the board to even up the match with a win on Court 4; 23-21 and 21-19.

   O’Gorman and Sprecher lost Court 2; 13-21 and 15-21 to give the Seminoles the lead heading into the later part of the duel. Meyer and Chattelier evened the match back up on Court 3; 21-18, 13-21 and 15-10. As the match came down to Court 1, Bailey and Bracken lost a three-set battle; 19-21, 21-18 and 11-15.

​   “Overall, with 6 players getting their first real opportunity in the lineup for our program, we had a good day,” said Brock. “One that we can, and must, build on for tomorrow.”


No. 6 LSU def. FGCU, 3-2  

1. Parker Bracken / Gabi Bailey (LSU) def. Nicole De Oliveira and Kaitlyn Luebbers (FGCU) 21-11, 21-16
2. Jaci Carpenter and Emma Soncrant (FGCU) def. Aubrey O’Gorman / Julia Sprecher (LSU) 13-21, 21-19, 17-15
3. Camryn Chattelier / Emily Meyer (LSU) def. Andrea Dietz / Sydney Majick (FGCU) 21-16, 21-14
4. Alexis Keeter / Ava Lilliquist (FGCU) def. Skylar Martin / Tatum Finlason (LSU) 21-16, 22-20
5. Gracey Campbell / Elle Evers (LSU) def. Erin Miller / Mia Thompson (FGCU) 22-20, 21-10

No. 6 FSU def. No. 8 LSU, 3-2

1. Alexis Durish / Audrey Keonig (FSU) def. Parker Bracken / Gabi Bailey (LSU) 21-19, 18-21, 15-11
2. Gella Andrew / Myriah Massey (FSU) def. Aubrey O’Gorman / Julia Sprecher (LSU) 21-13, 21-15
3. Camryn Chattelier / Emily Meyer (LSU) def. Bailey Higgins / Carra Sassack (FSU) 21-18, 13-21, 15-10
4. Skylar Martin / Tatum Finlason (LSU) def. Makenna Wolfe / Maddie Trusty (FSU) 23-21, 21-19
5. Kenzie Hultquist / McKenna Flaherty (FSU) def. Gracey Campbell / Elle Evers (LSU) 21-13, 21-19

​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
2/15/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   BATON ROUGE – The LSU Beach Volleyball team hosted its annual Purple vs. Gold scrimmage Saturday morning, with the Gold team winning 17-13 at the LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium.
   
   The Tigers saw action from 19 players during the scrimmage as they played six rounds, rotating partners as the coaches are looking to find their winning lineup. The Sandy Tigs enter the 2025 season with a strong blend of veteran leadership and promising young talent. The Tigers are led by a group of experienced standouts, including AVCA Second Team All-American Gabi Bailey, NCAA All-Tournament Team and CCSA Pair of the Year honoree Parker Bracken, and AVCA Top Flight selections Aubrey O’Gorman, Emily Meyer, and Yali Ashush. Their experience at the highest level provides stability and guidance for a talented group of younger players looking to make an impact.
   
   The next wave of Tiger talent includes 2024 CCSA All-Freshman Team honoree Skylar Martin, redshirt sophomore Kate Baker, and a trio of freshmen—Elle Every, Julia Sprecher, and Camryn Chatellier—who bring depth and energy to the roster. With a strong mix of proven veterans and rising stars, LSU has the foundation to compete at a high level throughout the season.
   
​   The scrimmage was the final in program competition before LSU officially starts its season, February 21-22, at the Beach Burg Invitational in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Tigers will face No. 6 FSU, Florida Gulf Coast, North Alabama, Southern Miss, and Spring Hill College over the course of the weekend.

Da Boot Sports
2/11/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The incredible Lee Brecheen, owner of Louisiana Football Magazine, took a visit to Covington, Louisiana and as always came away with another incredible story.  Below is video from his fantastic YouTube Channel, The Sports Scouting Report with him meeting with Mr. Mike Pompa..  A great story and interview...  Enjoy...
​

​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
1/23/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


    The incredible Lee Brecheen, owner of Louisiana Football Magazine, took a visit to the John Curtis Christian School Campus in River Ridge, Louisiana. Below is video from his fantastic YouTube Channel, The Sports Scouting Report with him sitting down with the great J.T. Curtis.  This is part Two of Two.  A great interview...  Enjoy...
​

​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
1/18/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


    The incredible Lee Brecheen, owner of Louisiana Football Magazine, took a visit to the John Curtis Christian School Campus in River Ridge, Louisiana. Below is video from his fantastic YouTube Channel, The Sports Scouting Report with him sitting down with the great J.T. Curtis.  This is a part One of Two. Part Two will be posted in a couple of days.  A great interview...  Enjoy...
​

​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
1/15/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU men’s swimming team finished its dual meet against Loyola (N.O.) by winning every event and coming away with the 170-14 victory Wednesday afternoon inside the LSU Natatorium.The Tigers and the Wolfpack competed in 10 events with LSU winning every single one. To get the competition started, the LSU men’s 200-yard medley relay team of Griffin Curtis, Mitch Mason, Pawel Uryniuk, and Stepan Goncharov finished first with a time of 1:28.82.

   Following that, LSU’s individual wins came in the 200-yard freestyle (Jacob Pishko – 1:41.46), 50-yard freestyle (Mason – 21.39), 100-yard IM (Levi Thome – 50.41), 100-yard butterfly (Pishko – 50.76), 100-yard freestyle (Uryniuk – 46.49), 100-yard backstroke (Collin Quickstad – 52.20), 500-yard freestyle (Truman Breithaupt – 4:31.37), and the 100-yard breaststroke (Thome – 56.33).

​   LSU finished the meet by taking first place in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Curtis, Jovan Lekic, Karlo Percinic, and Pishko clocked a time of 1:23.78.
The Tigers return to action Friday, Jan. 24 at 3:00 p.m. CT to take on Delta State in the LSU Natatorium. LSU’s senior meet will follow the next day, Jan. 25, with LSU competing in a tri-team meet against Cincinnati and Delta State at 10:00 a.m. CT.

Da Boot Sports
12/24/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil

        MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

   All of us here at Da Boot Sports wish all of you a very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year... 

   Though the presents are shiny and the paper is bright
   And it is hard to wait through the long and cold night
   To open them all the very next day
   And bring out the wonderful new toys to play
   It is important that we all remember
   Why it is we give gifts at the end of December
   Why it is we all gather and joyously sing:
   To celebrate the birth of our Savior and King
   Remember, Jesus is the reason for the Season... 

     **Thank You for all of your support...  

       GEAUX TIGERS!!!
​

Da Boot Sports
12/5/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - A huge congratulations to Michael Bonnette for 25 incredible years at LSU. He is now the longest tenured communications director in LSU history. 

   Mr. Bonnette is the definition of professionalism. He's not only an amazing Associate AD/Communications, but an even more amazing person. 

   Da Boot Sports would not exist if it wasn't for Mr. Bonnette who gave me the opportunity to stay in the LSU media family after tragically suffering some serious health issues, forcing me to leave the profession of sports photography. 

​   Thank you Mr. Bonnette for all that you have done for Da Boot Sports, myself, my staff and everyone in the working media who covers LSU Football.   CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Da Boot Sports
11/28/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


     Wishing you peace, love, and laughter this Thanksgiving. May your heart be filled with gratitude.  May this Thanksgiving bring joy to your heart, peace to your mind, and love to your home and let’s remember to be grateful not just for what we have, but for the people we have in our lives.  May the spirit of Thanksgiving fill your heart with peace, your mind with hope, and your life with love.


   

​   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 for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm..   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! 

    **If your a Saints fan, tune into our YouTube Channel next Monday night at 8pm for our new live Saints podcast, Fleur De Lis Focus. Check it out and join us for some fun New Orleans Saints football Talk...

​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
11/26/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE – The LSU Gymnastics program shattered season ticket sales for the second year in a row, setting a new record of over 8,680 season tickets sold ahead of the upcoming 2025 season.

   This milestone couldn’t have been achieved without the continued support of Tiger Nation, who surpassed last year’s season ticket record of 8,055. 

   “Our fan base continues to show why this is the best place in the country to be a collegiate athlete,” said head coach Jay Clark. “They show up and show out week after week and we are so grateful for their loyalty. The PMAC is truly a unique environment unlike anything else in college gymnastics, and we are so excited to get back in front of our fans in 2025!”

   The LSU Gymnastics squad is eager to return to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) next year after a historical season in 2024, highlighted by the program’s first national championship title. 

   The 2025 gymnastics season kicks off at home against Iowa State on Friday, January 3rd at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Fans are encouraged to get to the Tigers home opener early as the championship banner will be revealed prior to the start of the meet.

   As the Tigers gear up to defend their title next year, fans across the country will have multiple opportunities to watch LSU in 2025, both in the PMAC and with their seven appearances on national television across ESPN platforms.

   LSU will welcome Iowa State, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Georgia to Baton Rouge for five home meets inside the PMAC next year.

   Entering his fifth year as the head coach of the Tigers, Jay Clark continues to lead LSU to new heights year after year. Last season, Clark claimed multiple honors, including SEC Co-Head Coach of the Year, Region One Head Coach of the Year and Louisiana Head Coach of the Year by Allstate Sugar Bowl. 

   As the leader of the Tigers, he is dedicated to creating an environment that is second to none. “We want to do everything we can to see our attendance continue to grow every year,” said Clark. 

   The Tigers went undefeated at home in 2024 and finished the season with the highest average attendance in the nation for only the second time in program history.

   LSU finished the 2024 regular season with an average attendance of 12,590, marking the highest average in school history and the seventh-straight season with an average of 10,000 or better. A total of over 75,000 Tiger fans showed out to the PMAC, including three consecutive sold-out crowds.

   Individual meet tickets for the upcoming 2025 season will go on sale at 9 a.m. CT on Tuesday, December 10 on lsutix.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
11/15/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   LUBBOCK, Texas –  The LSU Soccer Team (9-9-3, 4-6-2 SEC) had its 2024 season come to an end on Friday night after falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 23 Texas Tech (15-4-2, 8-0-2 BIG 12) by a score of 2-1 at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

   The Red Raiders took the lead in the 23rd minute when Taylor Zdrojewski’s first time shot from 12 yards out found the back of the net. The lead was doubled just before halftime in the 42nd minute when Skylar Haase’s powerful header from ten yards out bounced into the bottom right corner.

   LSU grabbed one back and made it 2-1 on the night just 35 seconds into the second half as Mollie Baker found Amy Smith with a ground cross, with the freshman tapping the ball into the bottom right corner. The Tigers played strongly in the second half searching for an equalizer, but could not find one before the full time whistle.

   “I am really proud of how our team finished strong and handled the environment here. We are obviously disappointed in the result, but we had some really big chances over the course of the game,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “All credit to Texas Tech. They were clinical, but I thought we managed the game much better in the second half and saw some good moments.”


   The opening 10 minutes was a cagey affair with neither team able to take control of the match. The first chance of the night came in the 12th minute when midfielder Danielle Shannon ripped a powerful shot inside the box that was parried away by Texas Tech goalkeeper Faith Nguyen. 

   Only 30 seconds later, the Red Raiders launched a counterattack but was denied by defender Sydney Cheesman, who won the ball with a perfectly timed slide tackle on the edge of the box before blocking a powerful shot by Peyton Parsons to conclude a strong defensive sequence. 

   LSU’s goalkeeper Audur Scheving was called into action for the first time in the 19th minute as she stopped Texas Tech’s first shot on goal in the night with a simple catch.

   The Red Raiders opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Macy Blackburn lined up for a free kick on the right hand flank and sent a perfect cross to Zdrojewski, who tapped it first time with her right foot and into the bottom left corner.

   Three minutes before the halftime break, Texas Tech found their second goal of the night. Blackburn sent an accurate cross into the box and found the head of Haase, whose strong header bounced back Scheving and into the bottom right corner. The goal gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the match heading into halftime and gave Blackburn her second assist in the match.

   The Tigers came out energetic in the second half and took only 35 seconds to grab a goal. Baker dispossessed a Red Raider defender around midfield and carried the ball into the box before sending a ground cross to Smith, who tapped it near post and into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1 on the night. The goal was Smith’s second goal of the season and Baker’s second assist on the year.

   LSU spent the remainder of the half chasing an equalizer while limiting Texas Tech’s opportunities on offense. Nguyen denied a chance from forward Andrea Iljkic in the 66th minute before making the save of the night just a minute later. Forward Ava Galligan collected the ball outside the box on her left foot before ripping a powerful shot from 25 yards out that was tipped over the bar by an outstretched Nguyen.

   The Tigers’ final chance of the night came in the 80th minute as Smith took a shot from the top of the box, but the shot was collected by Nguyen. LSU chased for the final ten minutes of the match, but could not find a goal and the match concluded with a final score of 2-1 to the hosts.

   Texas Tech outshot LSU by a margin of 17-9, with the shots on goal coming in at a margin of 6-5 in favor of the Red Raiders. Both goalkeepers made big saves to keep their teams in contention, with Scheving and Nguyen both finishing the night with five saves each.

   Shannon, Smith, Baker, Iljkic and Galligan all tallied shots on target for the Tigers on the day. 

   While it was a disappointing result, the Tigers fought until the end in Lubbock. Their 2024 season concludes after earning their fourth consecutive NCAA postseason berth, the longest in LSU Soccer history. The Tigers will be back for more next year as the majority of this year’s squad returns, with only three seniors departing. 



   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 for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.. Tuesday night's special guest will be former LSU quarterback, Herb Tyler....   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! 

    **If your a Saints fan, tune into our YouTube Channel next Monday night at 8pm for our new live Saints podcast, Fleur De Lis Focus. Check it out and join us for some fun New Orleans Saints football Talk...
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​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
11/11/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE – For the first time in program history, the LSU Soccer team (9-8-3, 3-5-2 SEC) earned their fourth consecutive postseason berth under head coach Sian Hudson and will kick off their 2024 NCAA Tournament journey in the first round against No. 8 seed Texas Tech (14-4-2, 8-1-2) on Friday, November 15.

   The field of 64 teams, which will compete for the 43rd NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, was announced on Monday by the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee. Thirty-one conference champions qualified automatically, while the rest of the field was selected at-large by the committee.

   "We’re really excited to be in the national tournament for four years running and for the matchup against Texas Tech,” said Hudson. “It's a great accomplishment to go dancing. Texas Tech is traditionally a very strong program and they’ve had a really good year in the Big 12, so it’ll be a tough test for us. They are well organized and have a fantastic coach in Tom Stone.”

   “We’ll be heading to Lubbock with a lot of confidence from the way that we’ve played in recent weeks. Our team is ready and knows how to go into a game and have to execute in 90 minutes. We learned a lot in our SEC Tournament run last week in terms of tournament play, managing plays and finding ways to win.” 

   LSU and Texas Tech is one of thirty-two single-elimination first-round games that will be conducted at non-predetermined campus sites on November 15, 16 or 17 with the winning team from each game advancing to the second round.

   The Tigers lead the all-time series over Red Raiders, 3-1, with Friday's match being only their fifth time meeting. The two teams last faced off in 2020, when LSU came out victorious in a 1-0 win in Denton.

   Second and third round competition will follow across eight non-predetermined campus sites. At each campus site, four teams will compete in a single-elimination second-round competition. The two winning teams will then compete against each other in a single-elimination third-round competition at the same campus site. The winning team from each of the eight third rounds advanced to the quarterfinals.

  Four single-elimination quarterfinals games will be conducted on November 29 or 30 with the winners advancing to the championship final site.

   This 43rd annual NCAA Women’s College Cup will be played Dec. 6 and 9 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, with the University of North Carolina and Cary, NC serving as hosts. The first national semifinal will be played and broadcast live on ESPNU at 5 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 6, followed by the second semifinal beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. CT live on ESPNU.


   The national championship match will take place at 4 p.m. CT Monday, Dec. 9 and will also broadcast live on ESPNU.

   Check the full interactive bracket for updated times of the 2024 NCAA Championships here. Television and streaming information is to come. 

     NCAA Tournament History

   This year’s postseason berth marks the Tigers tenth program appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth-straight under Hudson, the longest streak by a coach in LSU soccer program history. LSU has claimed their spot in the tournament every year since 2021.

   Prior to that, the longest streak of postseason appearances came in 2007-2009 under former head coach Brian Lee.
Hudson’s first career NCAA Tournament appearance in the Purple & Gold came against Memphis in 2021, who the Tigers also played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year.

   The Tigers defeated Lamar in Baton Rouge to advance to the second round in 2022, where they fell against Florida State. The run matched the longest in program history as Hudson and the Tigers will look to go even further this year. LSU owns an all-time record of 3-8-2 in NCAA Tournament competition.

​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
11/5/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   PENSACOLA, Fla. – The 11th-seeded LSU Soccer team (9-8-3, 4-6-2 SEC) fell to the third-seeded Texas Longhorns (14-3-2, 7-3-1 SEC) in the quarterfinals of the 2024 SEC Tournament by a score of 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex.With the result on the day, LSU ends their beach trip with their longest run in the tournament since 2021.
   “I thought we were the ascending team early on and we started the second half really well, but we just couldn’t find our moment,” said head coach Sian Hudson. “We tried to fight back. Amy Smith had a great shot that hit the post, and if that were to go in, it would’ve been a different story. We had a couple of good moments in the box, but we just didn’t really get that piece of luck that we needed to get back in the game. All credit to Texas. They have two of the best players in the country in Lexi Messimo and Amalia Villareall and they were the difference makers for them today.”
   “In recent weeks we’ve shown the ability in our last four or five games in the SEC that we can compete with anyone. We just have to hope now that we get a berth into the national tournament and an opportunity to live another day.”
   The first half was a back and forth battle with neither team able to find a breakthrough in the first period of action. LSU managed to get two shots on goal from both Jazmin Ferguson and Riley MacDonald, while goalkeeper Sophine Kevorkian made one save. It was scoreless after the first 45 minutes.
   Texas came out of the locker room and scored two goals in two minutes early in the second half. The scorers for the Longhorns were Amalia Villareall (55’) and Holly Ward (57’). Ward’s goal was assisted by Lexi Missimo.
   The Tigers’ best chance of the second half came via Amy Smith, who hit the right goal post with a blistering shot late in the period.
   Holly Ward added a third goal for the Longhorns and her second goal of the match in the 86th minute. 
   The Tigers finished the match with 12 shots compared to 21 from the Longhorns. Kevorkian finished the match with two saves in between the posts for LSU.

   LSU will now return home to Baton Rouge and wait to see if they will be awarded a berth to the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. The selection show will take place on Monday, November 11th, at 3:00 p.m. CT. The show will be broadcast live on NCAA.com. 

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​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.