AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn (1-0-0) hosts No. 12 BYU (1-0-0) in the team's home opener Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
The game will be available for streaming on SEC Network+ and will also be broadcast on WEGL 91.1.
dmission to the Auburn Soccer Complex is free.
STARTING XI
Auburn started the 2021 season with a come-from-behind, 2-1 win at Samford Thursday.
After conceding a goal in the first three minutes, senior Alyssa Malonson and sophomore Anna Haddock accounted for the scoring to complete the comeback.
The Tigers have won six straight contests dating back to March 13 of last season and have outscored opponents 13-3 during the span.
Auburn is 21-4-3 all-time in home openers and 16-3-3 in home openers under Hoppa.
The Tigers are 0-1-0 all-time against BYU with the only previous meeting occurring in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament and resulting in a 1-0 BYU win.
The 2021 season marks head coach Karen Hoppa's 23rd season on the Plains (255-168-44) and 29th season as a head coach overall (319-212-53).
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 was picked to finish seventh in the annual SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Haddock, Malonson and Maddie Prohaska were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List. It marks the fourth straight season Malonson 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.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Haddock scored the game-winner in the 70th minute of Thursday's win, marking the first game-winning goal of her career. The Bowling Green, Kentucky, native has registered 16 points on three goals and 10 assists in her first 19 career games.
SCOUTING BYU
BYU started the season with a 3-0 win against Ohio State Thursday.
Graduate midfielder Mikayla Colohan, who was named to the 2021 Hermann Trophy Watch List earlier this week, scored a pair of goals against the Buckeyes and has registered 98 points on 37 goals and 24 assists in 71 career games.
Freshman midfielder Olivia Smith assisted on all three of BYU's goals in the opener.
Graduate forward Camera Tucker joined Colohan on the 2021 Hermann Trophy Watch List.
UP NEXT
Auburn has a pair of road contests against in-state foes next week, starting with a match at Troy Thursday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
