March 3, 2017 AUBURN, Ala. - Looking to build momentum on a successful fall, the Auburn soccer team will open its annual spring schedule with a battle against Mississippi State at the Auburn Soccer complex Saturday at 2 p.m.
"We've a good couple months of work and we're excited about going out and playing somebody else and seeing where this team is at," said head coach Karen Hoppa. "Playing a conference team in our first game will really give us a good judgement of where our new team is and where we need to go."
Admission is free and open to the public.
The Tigers return six starters from the 2016 squad, including players at every level. Junior Kristen Dodson, who broke the Auburn single-season scoring record last year, will lead the front line into the spring slate, along with sophomore Bri Folds.
Courtney Schell is the lone returner in the midfield, while Karli Gutsche and Taylor Troutman figure to guide the defense this spring.
Between the posts, Sarah Le Beau comes back after posting six shutouts from a season ago.
In the lone meeting between the two teams in the fall, Auburn took a 3-0 result at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Ellie Leek, Brooke Ramsier and Dodson did the damage with one goal apiece, while Schell added two assists along with Folds and Troutman adding one each.
After their duel with Mississippi State, the Tigers will hit the road for a match at Samford, March 9. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala.
