Sept. 15, 2017
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AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn soccer team opened SEC play with a 1-0 win against No. 22 Texas A&M at the Auburn Soccer Complex Friday night.
"It was a total team effort," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "Texas A&M is a great team, and we defended extremely well. We created a lot of goal-scoring opportunities, Hannah Alspach was able to put one away and that was the difference in the game."
Alspach took care of the offensive output for the Tigers as she converted her first goal of the season, while Kristen Dodson tallied an assist in front of the near-capacity crowd. The assist marked Dodson's team-high eighth point of the season.
"The crowd was electric tonight," Hoppa added. "Between the drums, the vuvuzelas and the Auburn Family, this was the best atmosphere we've had in a long time. They were instrumental in guiding us to a huge three points at home."
The Tigers got out to an early lead as Alspach took a pass from Dodson at the top of the box and hit a left-footed curl over the Texas A&M goalkeeper and into the upper 90 with only 8:23 elapsed from the clock.
From there, the Orange and Blue offense continued to put pressure on the visiting Aggies as their first four shots were on frame.
However, the Tigers' defense, led by junior captain Sarah Le Beau in goal and senior defender Caroline Bado, was the story as the unit guided Auburn to its fifth shutout in a SEC opener.
"Sarah Le Beau was outstanding," Hoppa said. "She was just on tonight. Against a team like that, she needed to be. She commanded her box, made big-time saves, covered up for her defenders when there was a mistake, and that's what big-time goalkeepers do. She was just tremendous tonight."
Le Beau totaled five saves in the match, inlcuding three that came from point-blank range in the final stages of the second half. Additionally, Bado's presence on the back line proved instrumental in the result as she continuously thwarted the Aggies' attack throughout the match.
The Tigers continue SEC play with a trip to Knoxvillle, Tenn., to take on the Volunteers Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. CT. They return home Sunday, Sept. 24 to host Kentucky at 2 p.m. CT.