BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn soccer opened its 2018 campaign with a 4-0 win at Samford Thursday night. The Tigers' four goals were the most in a season opener since 2010 and the team's shutout was its 15th in 20 season openers under head coach Karen Hoppa.
"As young as we are, I'm just pleased that on game one we put out a total team performance," Hoppa said. "Defense was great and got the shutout. To score four goals on opening night is a great offensive output."
The Tigers outshot Samford 17-4 in the match and put nine on frame.
Bri Folds recorded a brace in the first half, while Angeline Daly and Jessie Gerow each scored the first goals of their Auburn careers in the second half. Rocio Sanders assisted on Folds' first goal, and Kori Locksley recorded her first career point with an assist to Gerow in the closing minutes of the match.
"This is a huge win for us," Folds said. "We've been practicing on set pieces a lot because we weren't as good as we wanted to be on the last year. That's a huge statement right there for us to come out and get two on set pieces tonight."
The Tigers took advantage of one of those set pieces and got on the scoreboard in the 13th minute. Sanders took the free kick and found Folds at the top of the box, and the Lakeland, Florida, native chipped it over the goalkeeper into the back of the net to open the scoring in the match and the 2018 season.
Approximately nine minutes later, Auburn was awarded a penalty kick after Treva Aycock made a strong run and went down in the box. Folds lined up the penalty kick and capitalized on the opportunity as she found the back of the net for her second goal of the night.
One of seven Tigers to make their Auburn regular-season debut Thursday, Daly added to the Tigers advantage in the 69th minute as she lined up a free kick from 30 yards out and struck it toward the left post past a diving goalkeeper.
Gerow put the finishing touches on the season-opening win as she received a throw-in from Locksley, dribbled left to avoid the Samford defense and fired across the box and into the back of the net. The goal was the first of her Auburn career.
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.
