Sept. 27, 2015
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AUBURN, Ala. - For the second-straight game, Auburn soccer junior Casie Ramsier hit the game-winner for the 13th-ranked Auburn soccer team. Two days after scoring in double overtime to defeat LSU, Ramsier came up big again Sunday against No. 9 Florida, winning it in the final 30 seconds of regulation for a 3-2 clincher.
"We were pumped today," Ramsier said. "This senior class has never beaten Florida and that was our goal going in. We knew we could compete with them. This team has grown so much and show how much we can fight."
"I told Casie (Ramsier), 'Character reflects leadership," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "The leadership and attitude we have from these seniors is to never say die, never quit and work to the end. We saw that today."
Ramsier, who already had a five-point game in her pocket from last Friday's win over LSU, nearly one-upped herself on Sunday against the Gators, scoring twice on the front and back ends of the second half for her third two-goal game this year and eight goals on the year.
For the weekend, it's a stunning nine point, four goal and one assist performance over two matches with two game-winners for Ramsier, marking one of the best two-match performances by an Auburn player in recent history.
The win for the Tigers is its first over a top-ten team since defeating No. 5 Duke (1-0) back in 2011 and its first over the Gators since 2011 (3-2), also, coming in the SEC Tournament final.
After a scoreless but intense first half, Auburn got on top of the Gators early in the second half with Ramsier's first goal of the game. Ramsier found her way with the ball into the middle of the box and fired a shot from 10 yards out, but it was blocked by Florida. Ramsier was able to get her own rebound and finish with the left foot to put Auburn up 1-0.
Two minutes later, Auburn pounced again, this time from sophomore Kristen Dodson. With the Tigers trying to work the counter attack all game long, one instance finally paid off.
Brooke Ramsier got the attack going at midfield, sending the ball to freshman Taylor Troutman on the left side. Troutman crossed nearly the entire width of the field to Dodson, who had wide open space down the right side. With only one defender to beat and with opposition expecting her to go left, Dodson decided to shoot and beat the keeper low into the right corner of the net.
For Dodson, it was her third goal of the year and Troutman's third assist.
Florida answered back over the next 30 minutes, tying the game on two goals from Savannah Jordan, one from a penalty kick. In the 58th minute, Auburn was called for a foul in the box, awarding Florida its second penalty kick of the game.
Auburn escaped the first penalty kick in the 17th minute when Megan Dougherty kicked one to Sarah Le Beau's right. Le Beau dove and made the great save near the post becoming the first Auburn keeper to save a penalty kick since 2008.
Lightning couldn't strike twice as Le Beau was unable to save Florida's second penalty kick, giving Jordan her 11th goal of the year and cutting Auburn's lead to 2-1.
Jordan equalized the match in the 73rd minute for Florida receiving a through ball from Dougherty in the middle of the box and beating Le Beau in the right side of the net.
In the final minutes of regulation, the match looked to be headed to overtime. However, Auburn was awarded a corner with 30 seconds left and that's where Troutman delivered a perfect corner into the far side of the box, allowing Ramsier to win it for Auburn.
"It's been amazing to come out and get two wins this weekend," Ramsier said. "Now we have to go back to work and we have a tough game Thursday at Alabama and we're going to be ready."
"It's one more step," Hoppa said afterward. "We have a lot of soccer to be played. Today was a great win, but we have to keep building and find a way to be better Thursday at Alabama."
Up Next
Auburn travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face the Crimson Tide on Thursday at 6 p.m. It will be the 24th meeting of the Iron Bowl of College Soccer as the Tigers will look to win its fourth-straight over the Tide.
The match will be televised nationally on the SEC Network, the second SEC Network broadcast for the Tigers this season.
For more information on Auburn soccer, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter, @AuburnSoccer or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSoccer.