Aug 23, 2013
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AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn and Clemson played to a scoreless tie in the first game of the season Friday night at the Auburn University Soccer Complex. Redshirt freshman Alyse Scott, who made her first collegiate start, saw 11 shots fired her way and saved two put on frame in the first half.
"Tonight was less about the result and more about what we learned," said head coach Karen Hoppa. "I thought in the first half we were getting pushed around, and we had to learn to fight while playing against a top-notch opponent."
Playing in the season-opener, Hoppa said her team came out with some jitters, but responded well as the game progressed.
"We had some opening-night jitters in the first half. Some of it was youth, but some of it was opening night," Hoppa said. "We did a great job of improving from the first half to the second half. We had a lot of openings against a tough opponent but couldn't convert."
Each team had multiple scoring chances in the second half, but neither could find the back of the net. Auburn's best scoring chance came in the winding minutes of the second half when freshman Samantha Solaru put a shot on goal, but it was deflected wide by Clemson goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Auburn's first scoring chance came 19 minutes in the first half when Tori Ball headed a shot on frame, but it was caught by Sheridan, who recorded three saves. Freshman Casie Ramsier led Auburn in shots with three. Junior Tori Ball had two.
The Tigers go on the road Sunday to play No. 3 Florida State at noon CT. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com and will air locally on WEGL 91.1 FM.