Auburn Kicks Off SEC Play With Fixture vs. Texas A&M

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Sept. 14, 2017 Auburn vs. Texas A&M

(3-3-1, 0-0-0 SEC) vs. (4-1-1, 0-0-0 SEC)




Match

Friday, Sept. 156:30 p.m.
Auburn vs. Texas A&M

AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn soccer team begins SEC play with a Friday fixture against No. 22 Texas A&M. Kickoff at the Auburn Soccer Complex is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

Andy Burcham and Mac Matthews will have the call from the broadcast booth on SEC Network+. The fixture will also be available on radio at WEGL 91.1.

Following the SEC opener, the Tigers hit the road for a tilt at Tennessee Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. CT. The team concludes the week with a home match against Kentucky Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. CT.

Promotions

Alumni Night

Anthem Buddies

Vuvuzela Giveaway

Bag Tag Giveaway

Schedule Magnet Giveaway

Shaker Giveaway

Poster Giveaway

Starting XI

The Tigers and Aggies have met on seven previous occasions, with Texas A&M holding a 5-2-0 advantage in the all-time series. Auburn won its last home match against the Aggies, 2-0, on Oct. 11, 2015.

Auburn went 9-2-0 in SEC play a season ago and finished second in the league. The Tigers are 16-6-0 against conference foes over the last two seasons.

Auburn is 112-68-15 in the month of September all-time, including 2017. The Tigers have netted 374 goals (1.92 per match) and allowed 260 (1.33 per match). Over that span, Auburn has secured 69 shutouts, including 54 under head coach Karen Hoppa.

Auburn was picked to finish sixth by the SEC coaches in the annual preseason poll. The Tigers trailed 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.

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: Bri Folds

Bri Folds is coming off a career best performance in a 3-1 win against High Point last Friday night as the sophomore matched a career-high with four points coming on one goal and two assists. Her four-point tally matched her total she produced in a fixture at Georgia last season. Folds is now tied with Dodson for the team lead with seven points this season - two goals and three assists.