AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn reigned victorious in its SEC home opener against No. 18 Tennessee, defeating the Volunteers by a score of 1-0 Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
With the win, the Tigers (5-3-2) improve to 2-0 in SEC play for the first time since 2011. The team has now won five straight SEC home openers, which marks a new program record.
"To be able to start conference play this way is massive," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "I think it's going to give our young group some confidence. Credit to Tennessee, who made it a tough game for us, but I'm really proud of my team and the way we executed tonight."
Kori Locksley lead the way for Auburn as her goal in the 40th minute was the first of her career and proved to be the game-winner. Alyssa Malonson and Rocio Sanders pitched in with an assist on the score.
"It's a great win," Locksley said. "Alyssa played a great ball for me, and I had options. It was refreshing. I've been trying to get better each game, coming back. I was in a similar situation last week, and I think it helped me with the situation today."
The goal came after Malonson received a pass from Sanders and played a through ball to Locksley, who took a shot from the right side of the box and beat the keeper who came off her line at the near post.
"I could really tear up thinking about it," Hoppa added. "Everything she's been through with two surgeries in two years, to come back and have the mentality to come back is special. Kori kept rehabbing and fighting, and we've been seeing it coming. She's been getting better every weekend. She came up huge tonight."
On the defensive side of the ball, goalkeeper Kate Hart helped Auburn record its fifth shutout of the season, including its second straight. Hart saved all of Tennessee's five shots on goal, matching her second-high save total of the season.
"We came out with a lot of energy and got after it right away," Hart said. "We kept it going in the second half, and that was huge. We buckled down, and it's obviously great to get a shutout."
Auburn put four of its seven shots on frame and was led by Hailey Whitaker's four shots in the contest.
Seventeen Tigers saw time on the pitch, with four different Tigers playing the entire 90 minutes.
"It's a great position being 2-0, but we can't get comfortable," Locksley added. "We have to keep pushing. We just have to stick to the game plan so we can continue to get wins."
The Tigers continue SEC play with a road contests against Ole Miss Sunday. Kickoff at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.