BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn soccer players Bri Folds, Sarah Le Beau and Alyssa Malonson were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List announced by the league office Wednesday.
This season marks the third straight year Le Beau has been named to the preseason list and the second straight for Folds.
Folds enters her junior season as one of the Tigers top offensive options. In 44 career matches and 42 starts, the Lakeland, Florida, native has tallied 33 points on nine goals, including three game-winners, and 15 assists.
After a SEC All-Freshman campaign in 2016, Folds tied for the team lead with six assists a year ago and ranked second on the squad with 14 points. The midfielder played and started in all 20 matches and was named to the Top Drawer National Team of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in Auburn's NCAA Tournament win vs. Hofstra, which sent the Tigers to the second round of the tournament for the fourth straight season.
A two-time team captain and All-SEC performer, Le Beau enters her final season on The Plains ranked in the top five in program history in a number of categories including goals against average (1.07), saves (233) and shutouts (21).
Le Beau has pitched 21 shutouts in her Auburn career and was the final line of defense for a unit that shut out eight opponents a year ago, including a program-record-matching five in SEC play. She was named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Southeast Region after holding opponents to a 1.13 goals against average and recording 79 saves. Le Beau was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after holding Texas A&M scoreless in the SEC opener last season.
Malonson is coming off a freshman campaign in which she earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors after tying with Folds for the team lead in assists. The Spring, Texas, native played and started in all 20 matches. After beginning the season on the attack, Malonson moved to the back line and helped Le Beau in playing a pivotal role in the team's eight shutouts. She assisted in back-to-back SEC contests vs. Alabama and Florida and went on to be named the SEC Freshman of the Week.
The 26th season of Auburn soccer, including the 20th under head coach Karen Hoppa, kicks off Thursday at Samford. Kickoff at the Samford Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
