Oct. 7, 2007
STARKVILLE, Miss. -
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With the clock ticking towards a second consecutive overtime match for the Tigers, Caitlin King's ball from just outside the 18 found its way to the upper corner of the opposite side of the net as Auburn survived for a 1-0 win at Mississippi State on Sunday, giving Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa her 100th victory at the school.
"It wasn't pretty but anytime you can go on the road and come out with a victory in the SEC makes you happy," Hoppa said. "I was really proud of the girls after losing a heart-breaker in double-overtime on Friday night and then to come out here on a hot day and run as hard as we did and persevere, it says a lot about this team."
Having been limited to just three shots on goal through the first 85 minutes, King took a back pass from Jenni Prescott just outside the far top corner of the 18 and sent a ball towards the opposite corner of the MSU net. The ball, which had the look of a cross to the two awaiting Auburn players at the near post, slipped over the out-stretched arms of MSU goalkeeper Taryn Holland and into the upper 90 for King's third goal of the season.
"I was just trying to get the ball in near the net and it ended up being a goal," King said.
Allison Whitworth had another stellar game between the pipes for Auburn, thwarting multiple MSU chances late in the contest.
"Our defense did a great job of blocking some shots and getting into crosses, preventing them from getting any open looks," Whitworth said.
The win was the 100th for Hoppa at Auburn in her 175th game. Only three other coaches in SEC history have won 100 games at one league school faster - Becky Burleigh (Florida - 115 games), Angela Kelly (Tennessee - 152 games) and Warren Lipka (Kentucky - 173 games).
Auburn (7-3-1, 3-1-0 SEC) has now shutout Mississippi State (5-7-0, 1-3-0) in six consecutive contests, dating back to an overtime loss in 2001 in Starkville.
Auburn returns home for a pair of SEC matches next weekend, playing host to LSU at 7pm CT on Friday night, Oct. 12, before facing Arkansas at 2pm on Sunday, Oct. 14. Admission to both matches is free.