Nov. 4, 2010
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - The Auburn soccer team could only put three shots on frame but was able to extend the match into a second overtime before falling to Georgia, 2-1, in the opening round of the SEC Soccer Tournament at the Orange Beach Soccer Complex on Thursday night. The loss drops Auburn's record to 11-7-2 with the NCAA Tournament selection looming on Monday afternoon.
"This is a heartbreaking loss," Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. "I thought we did enough to win the game and we didn't win it. Give Georgia credit, they fought back hard and had a great finish at the end."
Auburn, which has scored just 11 first half goals on the year, took a 1-0 lead just 15 minutes into the match thanks to Katy Frierson's team-leading eighth goal of the season. Heather Havron found the First Team All-SEC midfielder down the sideline before she sent what appeared to be a cross into the box. However, with Ana Cate bearing down on Georgia keeper Ashley Baker from the opposite side, Baker was unable to stop the cross, which may have tipped off the foot of a Georgia defender as the ball found the opposite side of the net for the early lead.
The match stayed that way until the 66th minute when Georgia capitalized on an Auburn foul on the side of the 18, scoring off of a set piece. Instead of playing a ball into the box, Kelli Corless' free kick went into the middle of the field where Traci Dreesen fired a shot that deflected off of an Auburn defender and past Auburn goalkeeper Amy Howard to tie it 1-1.
Howard, who finished with five saves, almost personally extended the match into overtime as she made a couple of spectacular saves as Georgia took 13 of its 22 shots in the second half.
"It was our goal to be up 1-0 at the half," Howard said. "We played hard the entire game but sometimes things just don't go your way. We can't be upset with our effort."
Georgia again capitalized on an Auburn foul near the top of the 18 to score the game-winner. This time the foul led to a Georgia possession that resulted in a corner kick. Alexa Newfield served the corner into the middle and Bailey Powell finished it off with her first goal of the season.
Georgia (11-5-4) advances to the semifinals where it will face regular season champion Florida on Friday at 7:30pm.
The NCAA Tournament draw will be aired live on ESPNU at approximately 3:30pm CT on Monday.
ADDITIONAL AUBURN QUOTES
Head Coach Karen Hoppa
On the team's play overall...
"We started out with pretty good possession and we were happy with the first half. We did what we had to do to win the first half. We controlled the ball and got a good goal. Shots don't always equal possession because you can shoot from 30 yards away and it not be dangerous. That being said, I think in the second half Georgia had more of the possession and that was part of our problem. We had trouble getting a hold of the ball and unfortunately we couldn't convert the chances we did have."
On the team's chances of making the NCAA Tournament...
"I sure hope so. We play in one of the best leagues in the country and this team deserves to go. They are a NCAA Tournament team. They are easily one of the top 64 teams in the country and I think we are even better than that. We have beaten two top-10 teams during the season and hopefully our resume is good enough to get us there."
AUBURN NOTES
- Auburn is now 7-14-2 all-time at the SEC Tournament
- Auburn is now 1-2-0 against Georgia at the SEC Tournament
- Auburn is now 2-3-2 in overtime games this season
- Katy Frierson's goal gives her 28 points for the season, fourth-most in Auburn history ... Frierson now has 22 career goals, tied for fifth in school history, and 73 career points
- Senior defender Sammy Towne played in her 83rd career match, which places her in a five-way tie for seventh in Auburn history