Aug. 24, 2017 No. 20 Auburn vs. No. 13 Clemson
(1-0-1, 2017 RECORD) vs. (2-0-0, 2017 RECORD)
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Match
| Friday, Aug. 25 | 6:30 p.m. |
-->Auburn at Clemson
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 20 Auburn soccer team is set to face its toughest test of the season to date when it treks to No. 13 Clemson Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson, S.C.
The fixture will be streamed on ACC Network Extra on the WatchESPN app and online.
Following their battle out east, the Tigers return home for a match against North Dakota Sunday, Aug. 27 at the Auburn Soccer Complex at 6 p.m. CT.
The event marks the first-ever Pups at the Pitch promotion in conjunction with Paws & Claws. For more information, please email markets@auburn.edu or call 334-844-9706.
Starting XI
No. 10 Auburn hits the road for the first time in 2017 when it travels to No. 13 Clemson for a Friday night fixture.
The Tigers and Tigers will meet for the ninth time in series history and the fourth in South Carolina. Clemson holds a 6-1-1 advantage in the series all-time and has won the last two.
The winner of each matchup has needed two goals to complete the feat as no score line has featured a winner with just one goal scored.
Auburn has defeated seven schools from the currently constructed Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers have amassed three road victories when taking on ACC foes, touting victories over Miami, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Auburn was picked to finish sixth by the SEC coaches in the annual preseason poll. The Tigers trail Florida, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Missouri and Arkansas in the poll.
Seniors Kristen Dodson and Courtney Schell were joined by junior Sarah Le Beau and sophomore Bri Folds as honorees on the SEC Preseason Watch List.
Auburn is 33-13-4 all-time in the month of August. In that span, the Tigers have outscored the opposition 105-44 and average 2.1 goals per game.
The Tigers boast 19 underclassmen on their roster this season, including 12 freshmen. In contrast, Auburn touts 10 upperclassmen with six seniors leading the charge.
Auburn set a program record with 17 wins a season ago and reached the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in team history.
Head coach Karen Hoppa has coached 15 winning seasons at Auburn with nine of them being 12-win seasons.
Senior midfielder Courtney Schell and junior goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau were voted the team captains and will wear the "C" armbands throughout the season.
Player to Watch: Kristen Dodson
Senior Kristen Dodson has proven to be a force to be reckoned with up top. In her career, the forward has 67 points by way of 21 goals and 25 assists, including one already in 2017. Dodson has secured eight game-winners so far in her career, including four against teams outside of the SEC. The Aurora, Ill. native has netted eight goals in non-conference play entering 2017.
On the Mark
Senior midfielder Courtney Schell is the first player since Kara Karsten (2008) to score in the first two matches of the season, netting goals against South Alabama and Lipscomb.
She is the eighth player in program history to accomplish the feat. Only Tammy Waine (2000) has scored in three consecutive matches to being a season.