AUBURN, Ala. — In a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, Auburn soccer found the offensive spark it needed from fifth year Sydney Richards to top Missouri 3-2 and claim its first SEC win of the season Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Richards found the back of the net in minutes 33 and 68 to record her second brace of the season and the fourth of her career.
"What a great win," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "Boy, did Syd (Richards) sure shine and show just what she's made of. We saw a lot of positive, encouraging things out of our team tonight. There's certainly things we can work on, but it sure is much more fun to learn from a win than from a loss."
Auburn struck first with a pair of goals from Richards and senior Anna Haddock to take a 2-up lead into the half, however, Missouri responded out of the break and found two of its own in minutes 50 and 61. Auburn appeared to retake the lead in the 62nd minute on a head's up play from junior LJ Knox, but the goal was waved off. Richards sealed the deal for real in the 68th minute to lock up the Auburn win behind the seventh game-winner of her collegiate career.
With the performance, Richards joins Tiffany Smith (1993-96), Jill Palmer (1995-98), Tammy Waine (1998-01), Katy Frierson (2008-11), Casie Ramsier (2013-16) and Kristen Dodson (2014-17) as the only players in program history with at least four braces in their respective tenures.
"We've been struggling to connect for a little bit, so tonight was exactly what we needed," Richards said. "It was a product of the team playing well together and finding good opportunities. I'm happy that I could make the most of those that came to me."
Offensively, the Orange and Blue made the most of its chances, sticking five of six shots on frame and pushing three of which past the goal line. Auburn also created one corner kick courtesy of senior Mallory Mooney.
Mizzou created four shots and stuck all on goal. Senior Maddie Prohaska picked up saves on two of them. Prohaska now has 27 saves this season and 219 in her career.
Auburn utilized a set piece in the 12th minute to ignite the offensive battle. Haddock took the free kick from a few feet outside the top right edge of the 18 and delivered a spinning missile that took one bounce in the box and twisted past the opposing keeper to tuck inside the right edge of the goal. It was the earliest the Tigers have scored in a match this season.
"Obviously, last week was not the result we wanted, so we had to take advantage of playing at home," Haddock said. "We knew our only option tonight was to get the job done. It's huge for our confidence to know that we've got the fight and that we're never out of a game. It feels great to get us back on the right at home under the Thursday night lights."
Next, Richards found her first in the 33rd minute thanks to a combo in the midfield from senior Sammie Brown and Haddock. Richards found the ball 10 yards from the face of the 18 and veered right to drive past a pair of Missouri defenders and unleash a right-footed banger that nestled inside the right upper 90 for the 20th goal of her career.
Out of the break, Mizzou broke the shutout with a strike from Kylee Simmons in minute 50. Leah Selm tied the match at two-all with another goal in minute 61.
Less than a minute later, Knox appeared to grab another Orange & Blue goal off a corner kick, however a foul was called, and the draw remained.
Prohaska showed off her veteran prowess in the 65th minute by picking up a leaping one-handed save on high shot from Missouri's Brianna Buels. Prohaska tipped the chance over the crossbar to fend off any hope of a Black & Gold lead.
Minute 68 produced the magic moment for Auburn as Richards delivered the lethal blow thanks to some right-footed heat from just outside the top left edge of the goal box that crossed up goalkeeper Bella Hollenbach and skidded to her right and inside the net, officially handing Missouri just its second loss of the season.
Mooney and Haddock picked up assists on the play. Haddock passes Dodson and now stands fourth in school history for career assists with 29.
Up next, it's a tight turnaround for the Tigers as they face Ole Miss on the road Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast on the SEC Network.