AUBURN, Ala. – No. 9 Auburn (9-0-0) finished its non-conference schedule with a perfect record by defeating Alabama State (0-6-0), 7-0, Sunday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
The team's seven goals were the most in a match since 2008. It also marks the second time in program history the Tigers have finished non-conference play with a perfect mark.
"It was a great result," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "It was really important that we got the third and fourth goals before halftime because that took some pressure off. We might have relaxed a little bit after the early goal, and that's a good lesson to take from this game. We did a really good job executing in the second half."
The Tigers struck early and often as Bri Folds opened the scoring less than two minutes into the match and ultimately outshot Alabama State 49-1. Jessie Gerow, Taylor Troutman, Cami Rogers, Dani Solaru and Rocio Sanders also scored goals in the match. It was the first goals of the season for Troutman and Solaru, marking the 11th and 12th players to score this season. Troutman's three points also matched a career high.
Auburn wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Folds and Aycock executed a combination play just 1:51 into the contest. The goal was Folds' team-best seventh of the season and stood up as the game-winner, her fifth of the season.
Gerow doubled the advantage with her fourth goal of the season in the 33rd minute as she beat the Alabama State goalkeeper on the near side with a firm right foot. Approximately 10 minutes later, Troutman and Rogers scored less than a minute and a half apart to increase the advantage to four going into halftime.
Auburn continued to attack coming out of intermission. An own goal extended the lead to 5-0 before Solaru scored the second goal of her career in the 66th minute. Sanders then capped things off with a penalty kick after Abby Meadows drew a foul in the box.
"We're ready to go and be aggressive," Gerow said. "We're ready for SEC play. I thought everybody gave 100 percent effort this non-conference."
Twenty players saw action and logged more than 15 minutes in the match. Sarah Le Beau, Morgan Ramby and Sophie Milich split goalkeeping duties and led the team to its sixth shutout win of the season.
Auburn continues its schedule with its first SEC roadtrip of the season as the Tigers take on LSU (6-3-0, 0-1-0 SEC) Thursday at 7 p.m. CT in Baton Rouge.
No. 9 Auburn Defeats Alabama State, Finishes Non-Conference Play with Unblemished Record
