AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn soccer team kicks off the 2018 season with an in-state showdown at Samford Thursday night. Kickoff at the Samford Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Starting XI
Head coach Karen Hoppa begins her 20th season at the helm of the Auburn soccer program.
The Tigers are 10-2-1 all-time against Samford. Auburn started the series with eight wins and a tie in the first nine matches, and the two teams have split the previous four meetings.
Auburn was picked to finish fifth by the SEC coaches in the annual preseason poll. The Tigers round out the top five behind Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee and South Carolina.
The Tigers are coming off the program's fourth straight appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time in program history to accomplish the feat. The team has fallen to the eventual national champion in each of the last two postseasons.
Redshirt senior Sarah Le Beau, junior Bri Folds and sophomore Alyssa Malonson were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List. It marks the third straight season Le Beau has earned the preseason recognition and is the second straight for Folds.
Auburn is 16-6-3 all-time in season openers and is 4-3-2 in season openers on the road. The Tigers also opened the 2009 season at Samford and battled the Bulldogs to a scoreless draw.
The Tigers have not lost a season opener to a team from the state of Alabama. Auburn is 6-0-1 all-time against teams inside the border to open a campaign.
Auburn's 2018 roster consists of 27 players, including 11 freshmen, six sophomores, six juniors and four seniors. The team returns six starters from a season ago and 10 players who started in any match throughout the year.
Hoppa has led the Tigers to 16 winning seasons in 19 years on The Plains, including 14 seasons with 10 or more wins.
Le Beau, senior midfielder Gianna Montini and senior defender Taylor Troutman were voted team captains and will wear the 'C' armbands throughout the season. This marks the second straight season Le Beau has been voted a team captain.
Scouting Samford
Samford posted a 13-6-2 record in 2017 and clinched a share of the Southern Conference title, marking its fourth straight regular season championship.
The Bulldogs have been to the NCAA Tournament four times since 2005, including its most recent trip after winning the SoCon Tournament in 2016.
Seniors Korrie Sauder and Ella Baggett lead the Bulldogs attack after ranking tied for second on the team with 12 points apiece a season ago.
Samford will have to replace leading scorer Jermaine Seoposenwe, who registered 35 points on 13 goals and nine assists, and goalkeeper Anna Maddox, who held opponents to a 0.94 goals against average a season ago.
Player to Watch: Sarah Le Beau
Le Beau returns to The Plains for her final season and has been voted a team captain for the second straight year. She currently ranks in the top five in program history in goals against average (1.07), shutouts (21) and saves (233). The Crystal Lake, Illinois, native was also selected to the SEC Preseason Watch List for the third straight season this week.
Up Next
Auburn returns to The Plains to take on South Florida in its home opener scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Admission to all home matches is free.
Auburn Soccer Opens 2018 Season at Samford
