AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn soccer team kicks off the 2020 Southeastern Conference season by hosting Mississippi State Friday. Kickoff in the first on-campus event since mid-March is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
"We're thrilled, and I'm thrilled for these players because they've sacrificed so much and they've worked so hard," head coach Karen Hoppa said earlier this week. "They committed to being better and coming out better from that quarantine than they went in. They've been busting their tails since August fourth on campus in practice with the uncertainty of is there going to be a game or not, so yeah, we are thrilled we get to play Friday night."
STARTING XI
Auburn is 17-7-3 all-time in season openers, including 13-5-3 in season openers in 21 years under Hoppa. The Tigers are 21-4-2 all-time in home openers and 16-3-2 in home openers under the 21-year head coach.
Seniors Sarah Houchin and Alyssa Malonson and sophomore Sydney Richards were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List Thursday. It marks the third straight season Malonson has earned the distinction.
The Tigers are 167-64-18 all-time at the Auburn Soccer Complex and have posted a .500 or better home record in 20 straight seasons.
Auburn's 2020 roster consists of 29 players, including 15 freshmen, four sophomores, six juniors and four seniors.
Houchin along with juniors M.E. Craven and Kori Locksley have been voted by their coaches and teammates as captains for the 2020 season.
The Tigers return five of the top seven point scorers from a season ago, totaling 13 goals, nine assists and 35 points.
The team finished the 2019 season by making its 19th straight appearance in the SEC Tournament, the second longest active streak in the league.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State went 8-8-3 under first-year head coach and former Auburn associate head coach James Armstrong in 2019.
Friday's contest marks Armstrong's first return to Auburn since becoming the Bulldogs head coach.
Mississippi State players Miranda Carrasco, Onyi Echegini, Niah Johnson and Andrea Tyrrell were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List Thursday.
FYI
Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Capacity at the Auburn Soccer Complex will be reduced to an Auburn team pass list, visiting team pass list and a limited number of Auburn students. The general public will not be admitted to the home opener Friday.
Face coverings will be required for all spectators and gameday workers. Fans will be asked to sit in their designated seating areas and practice one-way traffic flow designated by stadium signage.
Tailgating outside of the complex will be prohibited. Additionally, congregating along the fence inside the complex will not be allowed.
The portable AU Team Shop will be on-site offering officially licensed Auburn apparel. In addition, a limited selection of bottled drinks and prepackaged food will be available for purchase at the concession stand. All transactions must be cashless.
Auburn soccer kicks off SEC season vs. Mississippi State
