Oct. 3, 2014
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AUBURN, Ala. - For the third time in its last four matches, the Auburn soccer team went to overtime with Ole Miss Friday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex, and came out with another conference point, finishing in a 2-2 tie. It is Auburn's second tie of conference play and second in the last three matches.
Auburn found itself up early in the first half, benefitting from an own goal from the Ole Miss defense, but the Rebels found a way to equalize midway through the second half off a counter attack.
In the 80th minute, the Tigers got what they thought was the game-winner after freshman Courtney Schell headed in her third goal of the season off a Kala Faulkner free-kick. Ole Miss equalized a second-time just six minutes later to make it 2-2, a score that remained that way through the overtime periods.
"I thought we played hard," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We finished better than last week, so I thought that was good. I just thought we made too many defensive mistakes, we just need to be better there."
When you're in SECs, you have to come out and play every play and compete to win every single play. It's certainly something we've talked about and we've tried to raise our intensity level in practice, but along with that we also have to have the execution. It's those two things combined that's going to make us successful."
Auburn moves it overall record with the tie to 6-4-2 and 0-2-2 in Southeastern Conference play. Ole Miss's record changes to 6-3-4 overall and 1-1-3 in the SEC.
The Tigers tallied 13 shots in the contest, including two combined in both overtime periods. Senior Chelsea Gandy-Cromer led all Auburn shot-takers with four, two finding the target.
In the net, redshirt sophomore Alyse Scott made three saves on the night, one coming in overtime as she tallied her second tie of the season as well.
The Tigers scored in the first half for the seventh time this season, second in conference play, but it came by way of the opponent's boot.
In the 25th minute, sophomore Casie Ramsier found an opening on the left side of the box and took a hard shot that was punched away by Ole Miss keeper, Kelly McCormick. Off the rebound, the Rebels tried to clear it away, but were unsuccessful as the sliding clearance kicked the ball into their own net.
The 1-0 lead for Auburn carried through halftime and 20 minutes into the second period. Ole Miss got its first equalizer in the 65th minute from Gretchen Harknett, who capitalized on a counterattack, beating Scott on the left side of the box from 10 yards out. For Harknett, it was her third goal of the season.
Auburn wasn't ready to let the match slip away from them. With just under 10 minutes to go in regulation, junior Kala Faulkner sent a free-kick from midfield high into the middle of the box. With everyone crashing in, the head of Courtney Schell rose above the rest and sent the ball home, giving Auburn the 2-1 lead.
For Schell, it's her third goal of the year, tying her for the team-lead and for Faulkner, it's her first assist of the season. Faulkner's last assist came in a 3-1 loss to Texas A&M last season on Oct. 4, 2013.
Unfortunately, Ole Miss equalized a second time just six minutes later after Addie Forbus beat an Auburn defender on the left side of the box and curved in a shot past Scott for her sixth goal of the year.
Only four shots were tallied by either team in the overtime periods. Two in the first extra period by Ole Miss and one in each by Auburn.
The Tigers return to the home field on Sunday to face Tennessee at 2 p.m. at the Auburn Soccer Complex as they continue to look for their first conference victory. Live stats will be available on AuburnTigers.com and the game will be televised online on SEC Network+.
For more information on Auburn soccer, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter, @AuburnSoccer or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSoccer.