Oct. 19, 2017
Related Links
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Auburn soccer team battled back and forth with Ole Miss (10-4-2, 3-4-1 SEC) in a match that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw Thursday night at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
With the result, Auburn (7-4-4, 4-1-3 SEC) guarantees itself a spot in the SEC Tournament but is still battling for a first-round bye awarded to the top six teams.
"It was a high-quality SEC match," said head coach Karen Hoppa. "It was back-and-forth and a great effort on both sides. We've got to be better than we were tonight, though. We can play better, and that's going to be our focus Sunday. This time of year, we have to gain momentum and get better from game to game."
Seniors Courtney Schell and Ellie Leek accounted for the Auburn goals in the match, while Bri Folds chipped in with an assist. Folds in now tied for the team lead with six assists this season.
Ole Miss jumped out to the lead on a goal eight minutes into the match, but it didn't take long for Schell to come through with the equalizer. The senior midfielder gained possession from the Rebels just outside of the box, took a pair of dribbles to find space and scored with the left foot past a diving Ole Miss goalkeeper.
The Rebels reclaimed the lead on a penalty kick in the 53rd minute, but the Tigers fought back to even the score for the second time in the match. After Jaelyn Gadson was fouled just outside the box, Leek collected a pass from Folds off a free kick and curved a beautiful ball into the left-upper 90 to even the score.
The score remained, 2-2, for the final 19 minutes, and after the two teams continued to battle for the first 19-plus minutes of extra time, Auburn appeared to win the match as Hannah Alspach headed a cross into the back of the net with 19 seconds on the clock. However, the referee called Alspach offside.
Sixteen Tigers saw action in the match, while eight played the entire 110 minutes.
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.