AUBURN, Ala. – No. 23 Auburn (9-1-1, 1-1-1 SEC) travels to Columbia, S.C., for a top 25 matchup against No. 14 South Carolina (8-2-0, 2-1-0 SEC) Friday at 6 p.m. CT at Stone Stadium. The contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Starting XI
After getting off to its best start in program history with nine straight wins to start the season, Auburn battled LSU to a scoreless draw on the road before dropping its fist match of the season to Ole Miss, 3-2, last week.
Auburn enters the week as the national leader in goals (34), assists (38) and points (106). The team also leads the SEC in scoring offense (3.09), points per game (9.64), assists per game (3.45), shots per game (19.27) and shots on goal per game (9.09).
Twelve different Tigers have scored a goal this season, led by a career best eight goals from junior Bri Folds, who ranks second or tied for second in the SEC in goals, assists (six) and points (22). The 12 goal scorers are the team's most since 2014.
Prior to an Ole Miss goal in the 38th minute of last Sunday's contest, the Auburn defense hadn't allowed a goal in 405+ minutes. The streak was the unit's longest since turning in six straight shutouts to start the 2015 season.
Friday marks the 22nd meeting between the Tigers and Gamecocks with the latter holding an 11-6-4 advantage in the all-time series. Auburn hasn't defeated South Carolina since 2012 and hasn't won in Columbia since 2005.
The Gamecocks mark Auburn's second ranked opponent this season. Friday's match also marks the team's 10th contest against a ranked foe since the beginning of last season (3-5-1).
Auburn has posted 50-21-7 (.686) overall record and 21-9-5 (.671) record in SEC play since the start of the 2015 season. The team ranks fourth in wins in both categories during that time - trailing South Carolina, Florida and Texas A&M.
The Tigers have outscored their opponents 34-6 this season and has trailed for just 27:38 of game action. Prior to the second half vs. Ole Miss, Auburn has trailed for just 3:50.
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina enters the weekend with an 8-2-0 overall record, 2-1-0 mark in SEC play and perfect 7-0-0 record at home this season.
The Gamecocks have won back-to-back SEC regular season championships and advanced to the College Cup a season ago.
South Carolina has turned in seven shutouts this season and has allowed five goals.
The Gamecocks attack is led by a pair of double-digit scorers in Alexis Chang (five goals, one assist) and Selma Sol Magnusdottir (two goals, six assists).
Player to Watch: Jessie Gerow
Gerow got Auburn out to a lead with a goal late in the first half against Ole Miss, marking her fifth goal of the season. A junior from Houston, Texas, Gerow's first goal of her career came in the season opener at Samford. She now ranks in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in both goals (five) and points (12) this season.
Auburn Travels to Columbia for Top 25 Matchup
