BATON ROUGE- McNeese freshman goal keeper Kelly Hines impressed the home LSU crowd in her second career start Friday night as she stepped into her role as the starter by finishing with eight saves and one goal allowed, that on a penalty kick to lead the 24th-ranked LSU Tigers to a 1-0 win over the Cowgirls Friday night in women's soccer action.

The Cowgirls fell to 1-1 on the season and will return home on Sunday at 1 to host Prairie View. LSU improved to 2-1 on the year following its second consecutive shutout.

The Tigers gained an early lead after a penalty kick was drawn on a fast counter attack in the eighth minute. The penalty was then scored by LSU's Marlena Cutura. The majority of the Tigers first half shots came off of swift counter attacks by the speedy Tiger forwards.

In the first half, the Cowgirls put up five shots, none of which were on goal. Once the Pokes found themselves in the attacking third, they kept dominant possession. Hines kept the Cowgirls in the game by making five first half saves.

The score remained throughout the second half, but with just five minutes remaining in the game, the Cowgirls found themselves with two corner kicks and several opportunities to tie the game but came up empty. 

GAME NOTES:
• Six Cowgirl starters played over 75 minutes
• The Pokes doubled their four shots taken in the 1^st half to eight in the 2^nd.
• The Tigers put up ten shots in the 1^st half and only got off five in the 2^nd.
• LSU held a 15-12 advantage in shots taken and 9-3 in SOG.

QUOTING HEAD COACH DREW FITZGERALD

"I think she did great (speaking on Kelly Hines) tonight. She could have let the pressure of giving up a PK get to her, she proved herself tonight. LSU came out looking a little different than expected, minus their counter attack, so we knew they were going to be fast and we had to adjust accordingly. We want to get better from here, but I have no complaints tonight."

QUOTING FRESHMAN GOAL KEEPER KELLY HINES

"I feel really good after tonight, although the PK was a bad start. I had to pick myself back up because it happens and I'll get better at coming off my line. I got on the bus and knew I was going to have a good day. I'm so proud of my outfielders for picking me up and having my back."