A Late Surge at LSU Soccer Stadium
LSU’s soccer side erased the memory of a season‑opening defeat with a dominant 5‑0 victory over Northwestern State at the university’s soccer stadium, turning a quiet first half into a flurry of activity after the break.
The Tigers struck three times within a span of just over three minutes, with Ava Galligan opening the scoring from a free‑kick, Allie Fryer converting a penalty, and Brielyn Knowles delivering the final touch from a cross, before Linka Ono headed home a goal in the 52nd minute.
Ryann Denecour and Mia Conard added their names to the scoresheet in the closing ten minutes, sealing a comprehensive win that underlined the team’s depth.
Goalkeeper Saki Tsuchiya was the backbone of the defense, making four second‑half saves, including a diving stop after a corner, and finishing with seven stops across the match, a tally that echoed her performance in the earlier game at Oklahoma.
Head coach Ian Brophy praised the defensive organization and the burst of scoring, describing the first half as ‘fantastic soccer’ while acknowledging a wobble in the latter half, and he highlighted the win as a ‘huge step forward’ for the program.
Looking ahead, the team will travel to Houston on Thursday before heading to Lafayette to face UL Lafayette on August 23, a pair of road tests that will test the momentum built in this match.