Houchin’s PK leads Auburn over Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior defender Sarah Houchin scored a penalty kick in the 107th minute to lead Auburn past Louisville, 1-0, Saturday afternoon.
 
The goal was Houchin's second of the season and fifth of her career. It marked her first game-winner in an Auburn uniform.
 
"It was actually a long stop for the PK, so I was trying just to not get it in my head," Houchin said. "Talking to my teammates, they kept me focused. We practice PKs, game situations all the time, so I knew I had it down."
 
"The composure by our captain Sarah Houchin to score that PK," head coach Karen Hoppa added. "She had so much time to think about it with the injury and just buried it. I'm really pleased with the girls today."
 
Auburn's win was its second straight this spring, and the Tigers have now earned a result in four of five matches since resuming play in February.
 
"It was just an outstanding performance by our team, starting with the defense," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "Louisville is an excellent team, a really tough ACC team. It's a hard place to win, no doubt about it, and I'm proud of our girls."
 
The Tigers and freshman goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska turned in the team's fourth clean sheet in five matches this spring. It marks Auburn's seventh shutout of the 2020-21 season.
 
"Our defense played a good game again today," Houchin said. "It was a little rough at times, but we held it strong and then eventually got it done on offense."
Auburn outshot Louisville 13-6 in the contest, including 4-1 in the overtime periods, while the defense held the Cardinals to just six shots and two on frame. The Tigers put seven of the team's 13 shots on goal.
 
Prior to the penalty kick, Auburn's best scoring chances in the contest came in the overtime periods. Midway through the first overtime, Marissa Arias made a strong run up the left flank and tried to sneak a shot past the Louisville goalkeeper near post. Similarly, midway through the second overtime, Kori Locksley, looked for Hailey Whitaker making a run near post, but the goalie came off her line to corral it before Whitaker had a chance.
 
Like she did in the first overtime, Arias made another strong run, this time up the right flank, and drew a foul inside the box to create the penalty kick opportunity. As aforementioned, Houchin stepped up following an injury timeout and froze the goalkeeper as she put it into the back of the net.
 
Sixteen Tigers saw action in the contest, including six who played 100 or more minutes. Nine different players recorded shots in the game, including two apiece from Whitaker, Alyssa Malonson, Houchin and M.E. Craven.
 
The Tigers remain on the road to take on archrival Alabama next Saturday, Mar. 27, at 2 p.m. CT.