AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn soccer team officially begins the 2021 season at Samford Thursday. Kickoff in Birmingham, Alabama, is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
STARTING XI
Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa begins her 23rd season at the helm of the Auburn soccer program and her 29th season as a head coach Thursday.
Hoppa is one of 20 active NCAA women's soccer Division I head coaches with 300 or more career wins, including 250 or more wins at the helm of his or her current program.
Auburn is 17-7-4 all-time in season openers and 13-5-4 in season openers under Hoppa.
The Tigers are 5-4-2 in season openers on the road and 11-2-2 all-time against Samford, including 5-1-1 against the Bulldogs in Birmingham.
Auburn was picked to finish seventh in the annual SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Anna Haddock, Alyssa Malonson and Maddie Prohaska were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List. It marks the fourth straight season Malonson has earned the distinction.
Auburn's 2021 roster consists of 31 players, including nine freshmen, 12 sophomores, three juniors and seven seniors or graduate players.
The Tigers return 10 starters from last year's team and bring back the majority of the offensive firepower in 24 of 27 goals, 28 of 30 assists and 76 of 84 points.
M.E. Craven, Olivia Dedels and Hailey Whitaker have been voted by their coaches and teammates as captains for the 2021 season. It marks the second season Craven has served as a team captain.
The team finished the 2020-21 season with a 10-5-3 overall record and went 6-1-1 in the spring while ending the season on a five-game winning streak.
Auburn outscored its opponents 16-3 during the spring slate.
SCOUTING SAMFORD
Samford posted an 8-2-3 overall record last spring and captured its seventh straight Southern Conference Regular Season Championship after going 7-0-2 in league play.
The Bulldogs return nine starters from last year's team, led by its three leading point scorers in Alyssa Frazier, Kyla Reynolds and Taylor Yount.
Head coach Todd Yelton enters his 20th year at the helm of the program and is assisted by former Auburn graduate assistant Josie Rix.
UP NEXT
Auburn welcomes No. 12 BYU to the Plains for the team's home opener Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex.