AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn soccer kicks off its home schedule with a matchup against No. 18 South Florida Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Andy Burcham and Mac Matthews will have the call from the broadcast booth on SEC Nework . The contest will also be available on radio at WEGL 91.1.
Admission to all Auburn soccer home games is free.
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Starting XI
Auburn is coming off a 4-0 win at Samford in the season opener Thursday night. The four goals scored 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.
Bri Folds recorded her first career brace vs. Samford, while Angeline Daly and Jessie Gerow scored their first career goals and Kori Locksley added her first career point with an assist.
The Tigers and Bulls have met on one previous occasion, with South Florida emerging victorious, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
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 19-4-2 all-time in home openers and 14-3-2 under Hoppa. The Tigers have outscored their opponents in home openers 72-21 all-time and 52-10 under Hoppa.
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 South Florida
South Florida hosted Towson in its season opener and defeated the Tigers, 2-1, in overtime.
The Bulls posted a 13-4-2 record a season ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after winning its first ever American Athletic Conference Tournament.
South Florida returns its top seven scorers and all 10 position players from a season ago, including All-American Evelyne Viens who led the way with 33 points on 12 goals and nine assists a year ago.
Player to Watch: Bri Folds
Folds turned in her first career brace and matched her career high with four points in the season opener at Samford Thursday night. The Lakeland, Florida, native scored off a set piece as she flicked a left-footer over the goalkeeper in the 13th minute to open the scoring and doubled the advantage with a goal on a penalty kick approximately 10 minutes later.
Up Next
Auburn remains at home to host UAB and Lousiana-Lafayette next Friday and Sunday, respectively. Both contests will be broadcast on SEC Network .
Auburn Takes on South Florida in Home Opener
