AUBURN, Ala. – No. 19 Auburn (11-3-0, 5-2-0 SEC) is set to host No. 4 Arkansas (12-2-0, 7-0-0 SEC) in a SEC West showdown Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
"This is an opportunity for us," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "Arkansas has been the best team in the league the last few years and they certainly are right now. They are really dangerous. They play really direct and just attack you and attack you for 90 minutes."
The Tigers will honor three seniors in Alyssa Malonson, Rocio Sanders and Olivia Dedels during a Senior Night ceremony beginning approximately 25 minutes before kickoff.
The game will be available for streaming on SEC Network+ and will also be broadcast on WEGL 91.1. Admission to all Auburn soccer home contests is free.
STARTING XI
Auburn has turned in three straight SEC shutouts for the first time since 2014.
The Tigers' 11 wins through 14 games are tied for the second most in the span in program history - 12 wins in 2015; 11 wins in 2002 and 2004.
The team is 8-1-0 at home and is yet to concede a goal at home in SEC play.
Auburn has outscored opponents 24-4 at the Auburn Soccer Complex and has turned in a shutout at home in six of the last seven contests.
Redshirt sophomore forward Marissa Arias has scored seven goals in the last nine contests and leads the SEC with five goals in league play.
Arias and junior forward Sydney Richards have accounted for eight of the last 11 goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska leads the SEC with seven shutouts overall and five shutouts in league play. Her 0.78 goals against average is third in the league.
The defense has surrendered just 14 goals in the last 22 games (0.62 goals against average).
Arkansas represents Auburn's fifth ranked opponent of the season, including its second top-five opponent at home.
The Tigers are 10-3-0 against the Razorbacks at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
With three regular season games remaining, Auburn and Arkansas are tied for the SEC West lead, while the Tigers stand fourth overall in the league standings.
PLAYER TO WATCH: ANNA HADDOCK
Sophomore midfielder Anna Haddock had a hand in both goals of Auburn's 2-0 win vs. Florida last Sunday.
The multi-assist effort was Haddock's second of the season and fourth of her career.
The Bowling Green, Kentucky native leads the team in goals (eight), assists (seven) and points (23) and has registered a point in 11 of 14 games this season.
Haddock scored a goal and recorded two assists the last time the two teams met in the 2020 SEC Tournament.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
Arkansas enters the week at the top of the SEC standings with a 7-0-0 mark in league action and is riding a 12-game winning streak after dropping its first two games of the season.
The Razorbacks lead the SEC and rank top 10 in the country in goals (45), assists (48), points (138) and scoring offense (3.21).
Five players have scored double digit points this season, led by Anna Podojil and Parker Goins, who are tied for third in the SEC with 24 points apiece.
On the other end of the field, Hannah Warner has allowed 10 goals and turned in a 0.73 goals against average in 14 games.
PROMOTION
Auburn basketball and head coach Bruce Pearl will be in attendance distributing Auburn soccer fanny packs to the first 100 fans.
UP NEXT
Auburn hits the road for its final two regular season games, starting with another top-20 matchup at No. 13 Ole Miss (11-2-2, 6-1-0 SEC) Sunday at 2 p.m. in Oxford, Mississippi.
