AUBURN, Ala. – No. 9 Auburn (8-0-0, 1-0-0 SEC) continued its best start in program history with a 3-0 win against previously unbeaten Mississippi State (7-1-0, 0-1-0 SEC) in the Southeastern Conference opener Friday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Not only is it the Tigers' start the best in school history, but the eight-match win streak is also the longest the team has ever had. Auburn also improved to 12-0-1 against Mississippi State at the Auburn Soccer Complex and has outscored the Bulldogs 13-0 since 2011.
"That's a big-time win," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "Two undefeated teams and two really good SEC teams. That was a battle. I'm really proud of my girls. We had some great offense, were under a ton of pressure late, and to get that third goal just put the game away."
Treva Aycock paced the Auburn offense with a season-high five points on two goals and an assist. Fellow junior Bri Folds scored her team-high sixth goal of the season, while Taylor Troutman, Jessie Gerow and Hailey Whitaker pitched in with assists.
On the opposite end, goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau led the Tigers to its fifth shutout of the season and the 25th of her career. Le Beau made six saves in the match, including four while under a lot of pressure in the second half.
"It was just a complete team effort," Le Beau said. "We knew they were going to throw all of their numbers at us at the end, but we just kept getting on the end of balls and clearing them. Then we got that open-net goal to put it away."
The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute when Aycock fired a shot that was deflected by Mississippi State goalkeeper Rhylee DeCrane and Folds was there to put the rebound into the back of the net. The goal stood up as the game-winner, marking Folds' fourth of the season and seventh of her career, which moved her into a tie for 10th in program history.
Auburn doubled its lead less than 10 minutes later as Aycock found herself with a defender to beat and cut left before firing with the left foot and beating the goalkeeper near side. Troutman played the ball past midfield from the defending third and Gerow got her head on it, finding Aycock on the run.
"We're all working towards the same goal and it's a great feeling," Aycock said. "It's amazing how we've able to rely on so many different people to score. It's difficult for other teams because there's not just one person to mark. Everyone can finish."
Trailing by two goals, Mississippi State picked up its pace in the second half, but Le Beau and the Auburn defense held its ground. The Bulldogs subbed goalkeepers in the 83rd minute, and Auburn took advantage as Aycock put the match away with a breakaway goal. Whitaker intercepted the throw-in from Mississippi State and played it down field to a streaking Aycock.
Friday's win came in front of a capacity crowd of 1,533, marking the largest regular-season crowd since 2012 and 10th largest crowd in program history.
"The environment was brilliant," Hoppa said. "We really appreciate the Auburn Family coming out. This team is working so hard and to get this kind of support tonight really helped. They wanted to make that large crowd proud of the way they represent Auburn."
The Tigers cap off the weekend by hosting Alabama State (0-5-0) in its final non-conference contest of the season Sunday at 6 p.m. CT.
No. 9 Tigers Blank Mississippi State in SEC Opener
