Sept. 4, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn goalkeeper Chandler Hillen needed to make just two saves as the Auburn soccer team posted its third straight shutout in a 1-0 win over Wright State on Sunday afternoon at the Auburn Soccer Complex. The win ran Auburn's winning streak to four straight matches and upped the team's record to 4-1-0.
"This wasn't the prettiest game we ever played but we got the result we needed," Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. "Coming off the huge win (over No. 5 Duke) on Friday, it's hard to get the team back up. The team responded and we did what we needed to do to win the game."
Tatiana Coleman collected the game's lone goal in the 83rd minute, playing a give-and-go with Julie King at the top of the 18. Coleman's final touch proved to be the difference in the game as she fired a shot over the head of Wright State (3-2-1) goalkeeper Brooke McCurdy and toward the opposite post.
"It was a pretty long game and we weren't playing in the best weather but we are a team that works until the end," Coleman said. "I saw Julie on the right side and gave her the ball and I thought she was going to go. But we communicated and she told me to keep going so I ran and she gave me the ball back. I saw the back of the net and just hit it."
Auburn dominated from the start but could not get anything past McCurdy, who made six saves on 18 Auburn shots. Katy Frierson fired three of Auburn's shots, putting all of them on frame, while Mary Coffed took five shots, putting two on frame.
Auburn's offense and defense did a solid job of keeping Wright State out of its attacking third as Wright State could muster just six shots for the match, four in the first half and just two in the second. Auburn also took four corner kicks while holding Wright State to just one.
Coleman's goal was her team-leading fourth of the season while King's assist was her second of the year.
The four match winning streak is the longest for Auburn since it won four straight from Oct. 22-Nov. 4, 2009.
In the day's first match, Duke (5-1-0) handed Ole Miss (3-1-1) its first loss of the season, taking a 1-0 win.
Auburn hits the road for its next match, the first of three straight away from the Auburn Soccer Complex, when it travels to Samford on Friday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 7pm in Birmingham.