'They give it their all' - Auburn soccer ready for NCAA Tournament

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Nov. 8, 2016

By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - Karen Hoppa likes her Auburn soccer team just as much in November as she did in August, when the coach said her 18th edition "might be the best squad we've ever had."

Three months later, after a regular season in which Auburn posted a program-record 7-game winning streak, Hoppa has seen nothing to change her mind.

"It's just a great group of student-athletes," Hoppa said. "They give it their all every single day. Doesn't matter what we ask of them. We get a hundred percent from this group. They're really great together. They've got great team chemistry. They work for each other, and we're hoping that continues on Saturday."

Auburn will host South Alabama Saturday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"Each NCAA Tournament is different," Hoppa said. "I'm really excited. I know how special this team is. For me, it's about trying to get our team to play the best soccer they can because I know how capable we are. We're going to try and prepare them and make sure they're ready for the best game that we possibly can have."

The Tigers and Jaguars met in the second game of the season, with Auburn winning 1-0 in double overtime in Mobile on Courtney Schell's header.

"It's been awhile since we've played South Alabama," Hoppa said. "They're a great team. They won their conference and we know they're really dangerous. But at least we do know them. We have some video on them, and hopefully we'll get some more. We know it's a really tough first-round draw. I think about as tough as you can get in the first round."

Auburn enters the NCAA Tournament with a 14-6 record, including 9-2 in the SEC.

"We are so excited," senior defender Kiana Clarke said. "We have played this team before so we already know what they're like. It was easy to get excited about this game. I think we have a great shot."

Auburn, the No. 4 seed in the Florida regional, earned a national seed in back-to-back seasons for the first time.

Saturday's winner will advance to Gainesville next week. It was there where Auburn shut out Florida 3-0 in September, beginning the longest winning streak in Auburn soccer history. Senior Casie Ramsier urges her younger teammates not to contemplate possibilities beyond the South Alabama showdown.

"There's so much energy going on, but you've just got to focus on the game," Ramsier said. "One game at a time. Just look at the opponent that you have ahead. It's hard to look at the bracket and see who you can play or where you can go. You really just have to focus on one game and just soak it all in."

Hoppa will rely on seniors such as Casie and Brooke Ramsier, along with Clarke, Samantha Solaru and Haley Gerken, to provide leadership. Last season, Auburn won two NCAA Tournament matches, advancing for the first time to the Sweet 16.

"Experience always helps you," Hoppa said. "These guys have been there. They know what it takes. They know the feeling. They know the butterflies. They'll be more prepared for this year's NCAA Tournament than they were last year. We need to draw on that experience for sure."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer