Auburn Soccer Marches On To Match Best Start In School History

Sept. 6, 2015

Auburn
Auburn
6-0-0
Sept. 4, 2015
1
2
F
Old Dominion Monarchs
0
0
0
#11 Auburn Tigers
1
0
1

Old Dominion
 1-4-0
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AUBURN, Ala. - The 11th-ranked Auburn soccer team matched its best start in school history Sunday afternoon, beating Old Dominion, 1-0, to move to 6-0-0 on the season and notching its sixth-straight shutout. With a header goal off a corner by sophomore Courtney Schell, the Auburn squad matched the 2002 team with its sixth-straight victory, but have still yet to yield a goal all year.

Once again, the defense, led by senior Kala Faulkner and Kiana Clarke, stole the show for Auburn as the Monarchs only managed four shots, one on goal. Redshirt sophomore Sarah Le Beau was the net for all 90 minutes, making the lone save and winning her sixth match of the season.

With Old Dominion playing with a five-player midfield, the back line of Faulkner, Clarke, sophomore Hannah Alspach and senior Sophie Simantel continued to not allow any good looks at the goal. Combined, Auburn opponents have only managed 41 shots, 16 have actually been shots on goal.

As a team, the Tigers have matched the program record for consecutive shutouts (6), dating back to 2003 and currently have the second-longest streak of consecutive minutes without giving up a goal (551). That same 2003 team, which was led by former Auburn All-American keeper Megan Rivera managed 687 minutes of scoreless soccer, which included two overtime ties.

For the first time since 1997, Auburn will go into its Southeastern Conference opener undefeated when it travels to Columbia, Mo. to take on the Missouri Tigers on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Auburn broke the scoreless tie in the 29th minute, but not until after a 30 minute lightning delay forced both teams to take shelter in the locker rooms.

Upon reentering the game with 17 minutes to go in the first half, the Tigers got one of their 12 corner kicks along the left side. Junior Brooke Ramsier delivered a great ball into the far side of the eight-yard box, where Schell met it with a header, beating the keeper to give Auburn a 1-0 lead.

For Schell, it was her first goal of the young season, making her the eighth different Tiger to score at least one goal so far this season. As for Ramsier, she now has five points this season with today being her first from an assist.

Post-game Quotes from head coach Karen Hoppa and selected players:

Head coach Karen Hoppa on her team's victory over Old Dominion:

"At the end of the day, we just wanted to complete the weekend. We had a great match on Friday night. The concern was for us to have a let-down today. I didn't think we started the game very well. I think the lightning delay helped us. We got organized, rested and refocused. We came out of that locker room on fire and credit to the players for getting it done and doing enough to get the `W.'"

Head coach Karen Hoppa on battling Old Dominion's tough midfield and getting the goal off the corner:

"That one corner where we got the goal was key. We worked on corners and changed some things up. We got great service from Brooke Ramsier and all the balls we played were perfect. We were just happy that one with the perfect header. I thought we did a good job creating some other chances too. I thought their goalkeeper (Erin Kinz) made some great saves. She made a couple of good saves on breakaways. That's something that we're going to have to be better at. We're not going to get that many chances in SEC play."

Head coach Karen Hoppa on her team's 6-0-0 start heading into SEC play on Friday vs. Missouri:

"We start this week with a new record of 0-0. That's got to be our focus this week. It's a new season. SEC play is going to be really important to us. This team knows we haven't accomplished anything yet. We're a third of the way through the season and I'm really happy with where we're at. We've got to continue to get better every game. Friday (against Missouri) needs to be our best performance yet."

Sophomore Courtney Schell on Sunday's win over Old Dominion:

"After Friday's win over Samford, we knew today's game was important for us to not have a letdown. After the rain delay, Coach (Hoppa) was trying to pump us up. We came out and scored quick and worked hard to finish the game."

Sophomore Courtney Schell on scoring off the corner with the header in the 29th minute:

"We have been working on corners all year so far. We were glad to get the one we did today and hopefully it'll keep the ball rolling for those types of situations."

Sophomore Courtney Schell on entering conference play with a 6-0-0 record:

"I think we're just going to focus on our play. We're worried about bettering ourselves than worrying about the other team. Figuring out what we need to do to work it through the midfield, getting up top and making runs. We just want to keep working as a unit."

Turning Point

After a 30 minute lightning delay, Auburn and Old Dominion resumed play with 17:30 to go in the first half. Two minutes after resuming play, Auburn got a corner kick in the 29th minute to try and break the scoreless tie. Brooke Ramsier launched a long kick from the left corner into the far side of the eight-yard box where Courtney Schell met it with the header into the right side of the goal. For Schell it was her first goal of the season and first assist of the year for Ramsier.

Up Next

Auburn begins conference play on Friday when it travels to Columbia, Mo., to take on the Missouri Tigers at 6:30 p.m. The match will be televised online only on SEC Network+, which is available on WatchESPN.com or the Watch ESPN app on your mobile device.

The Tigers will then step out of conference play briefly on Sunday when they return home to face South Alabama at 6 p.m. at the AU Soccer Complex.

For more information on Auburn soccer, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter, @AuburnSoccer or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSoccer.