Oct. 19, 2014
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Junior Haley Gerken sent a 30-yard volley just over the head of Arkansas' goalkeeper in double-overtime Sunday and it sneaked into the net giving Auburn the 2-1 victory. The win is an important one for Auburn as its gives it its second conference victory of the year and keeps it in the hunt for reaching the SEC Tournament for a 13th-consecutive year.
The win is the Tigers' first in overtime this season and 12thover the Razorbacks in the last 14 seasons. As for Gerken, it's her first goal of the season, second of her career and first game-winner. Auburn has now equaled its win total from a year ago, upping its record to 8-5-3 overall and 2-3-3 in Southeastern Conference play.
"We've had so many overtime games in conference play and it just feels great to get one to go our way," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "I'm really proud of this team. It was a complete team effort today. We had to go deep in the bench and our team stepped up. Props to Haley Gerken with the game-winner."
After going scoreless through the first overtime period, it looked as if Auburn was headed to another tie in conference play. As the clock ticked under three minutes of the second overtime, freshman Nicole Niro found some open ground at midfield and found Gerken streaking down the right sideline. Gerken tried sending in a cross, but Arkansas' keeper, Cameron Carter, came off her line too far and allowed the ball to fly over her head and into the net for the winner.
The Razorbacks had the early 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game after Tyler Allen scored from five yards out. However, Auburn's defense stepped up big for the remainder of the game, limited Arkansas to 17 shots with only nine on target.
Arkansas took the single-goal lead into halftime as Auburn wasn't able to equalize before the break. In the 63rdminute, the Tigers got the equalizer it needed, this time from redshirt sophomore Alex Massey.
After a shot was blocked inside the box, Kristen Dodson gathered the rebound and sent it back to Massey, who had a line at the top of the box. The ball sailed in right at the crossbar and bounced in just over the line. It's Massey's first goal of her Auburn career and couldn't have come in a bigger way.
The Tigers return home for its final home contests of 2014 next week when they face Mississippi State on Thursday at 6 p.m. They will then face Alabama on Sunday in the Iron Bowl of Soccer at 3 p.m. at the AU Soccer Complex. Both matches will be televised on the SEC Network.
For more information on Auburn soccer, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter,@AuburnSocceror follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSoccer.