Oct. 18, 2017
Auburn at Ole Miss
(7-4-3, 4-1-2 SEC) vs. (10-4-1, 3-4-0 SEC)
Match
| Thursday, Oct. 19 | 7 p.m. | --> |
| Auburn at Ole Miss | ||
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn soccer team begins its final two weeks of the SEC regular season with a trip to Oxford, Miss., to take on Ole Miss (10-4-1, 3-4-0 SEC) Thursday night. Kickoff at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
The contest will be streamed on SEC Network+ and is available on the WatchESPN app and online at WatchESPN.com.
With three matches remaining, Auburn (7-4-3, 4-1-2 SEC) is fifth in the SEC standings and just two points out of third place. The Tigers will punch their ticket to the SEC Tournament with a result at Ole Miss Thursday.
Starting XI
The all-time series between the Tigers and Rebels is tied, 11-11-2, and the two teams have split each of the last seven matches dating back to the 2009 season, 3-3-1.
Senior forward Kristen Dodson and freshman defender Alyssa Malonson were named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and SEC Freshman of the Week, respectively, Monday. Dodson went on to be named the National Player of the Week by TopDrawerSoccer.com, becoming the first player in program history to earn the distinction twice.
Dodson continues to climb a number of career records including goals (29), assists (27), points (85), and game-winning goals (10). Five of her team-high eight goals this season have come in the Tigers' last five matches.
The Auburn defense ranks tied for second in the league in shutouts (four), third in goals against average (0.67) and tied for third in goals allowed (five) during conference play. The D-Team allowed just one goal in its first four SEC games, marking the first time since 2004 and second time in program history the Tigers had accomplished the feat.
After checking in at No. 32 in the RPI a week ago, the Tigers jumped 14 spots to No. 18 with wins at Alabama and against then-No. 10 Florida.
Auburn is 103-76-22 all-time in October. The Tigers have netted 350 goals (1.74 per match) and allowed 268 (1.33 per match). Over that span, Auburn has secured 73 shutouts, including 58 under head coach Karen Hoppa.
Auburn went 9-2-0 in SEC play a season ago and finished second in the league. The Tigers are 20-7-3 against conference foes over the last three seasons. That mark includes a 12-3-0 record at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Scouting Ole Miss
Ole Miss leads the SEC in six offensive categories including goals, assists, points, scoring offense, assists per game and shots on goal per game.
The Rebels have won conference games against Georgia, Arkansas and LSU. The team's four conference losses have come against ranked opponents in Florida, South Caroline, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Junior forward CeCe Kizer leads the SEC in points (33) and is tied for the conference lead in goals (13). She ranks third and tied for fourth in the country, respectively, in the categories.
Player to Watch: Alyssa Malonson
Malonson earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after assisting in both wins against Alabama and Florida last week. She capped off the Tigers' highest scoring output of the season against the Crimson Tide with an assist to Dani Solaru and found Dodson for the game-winner against the Gators. Malonson leads the team and ranks tied for sixth in the SEC with six assists this season.
Up Next
The Tigers cap off the week by hosting LSU Sunday, Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. The match at the Auburn Soccer Complex will be broadcasted on ESPNU, and the six seniors on the roster will be honored prior to the match.