AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn started its spring exhibition season with a 2-0 win against Kennesaw State Saturday afternoon at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Anna Haddock and Jaycie Silhan accounted for the scoring in the contest, while the defense turned in a clean sheet on the other end of the field.
"Really good start to the spring. Obviously, spring is a developmental time and I thought we got better today." Head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We scored a couple of good goals. It was great to see LJ (Knox) and Jaycie combine to get the second goal on the corner.
"I'm really happy overall," Hoppa added. "I thought our defensive unit was excellent. They're really a new group playing together and did a good job to get the shutout."
After a slow start, the Tigers started to find their groove late in the first half, ripping off a handful of shots and winning a few corner kicks.
The best opportunities came with back-to-back chances in the 28th and 29th minutes. The first from a through ball from Hannah Waesch to Carly Thatcher that led to a shot on goal, which was saved by the Kennesaw goal keeper. A minute later, Sydnie Thibodaux had a great opportunity and placed a shot on goal, but the well-struck ball went off the keeper's gloves, hit the post and was fully recovered by the keeper.
Ultimately, Auburn wasn't able to convert its first-half chances into goals and the two teams were scoreless at the break. However, Auburn looked the more dominant side with Kennesaw never really getting to test Maddie Prohaska in the back.
Auburn got off to a faster start in the second half winning a corner five minutes in, but the attempted shot on the ball from the corner went over the frame. The Tigers then won another corner a few minutes later, but again it lead to nothing.
In the 54th minute, Olivia Candelino cut past a defender and got a shot off from about 15 yards out that required a fantastic diving save from the Kennesaw State goalkeeper. The ball then bounced directly to Sydney Richards, who fired off a shot that amazingly saved again by the Kennesaw State goalkeeper. The shots kept raining down from Auburn as Thibodaux put another ball on frame in the 58th minute.
The opening goal finally came for Auburn in the 68th minute off a set piece goal for Haddock. From about 25 yards out, Haddock was the one over the free kick and put it in the top left corner of the goal to give Auburn the 1-0 lead.
In the 86th minute, Auburn found the net again and extended its lead to 2-0. Off a corner kick, it was Silhan who got to the ball and tapped it in.
Kennesaw State's best chance came the 90th minute. A set piece ball played into the box found the head of a Kennesaw State player and was heading towards the bottom corner before the outstretched hand of Auburn goalkeeper Makenna Garcia pushed it away, and it went off the post as time expired.
The Tigers' exhibition schedule continues with a neutral-site matchup against Clemson Saturday, Feb. 26 in Atlanta.