AUBURN, Ala. – Call it an unofficial visit.
As a newborn in 2002, Sammie Brown accompanied her mom, West Virginia soccer coach Nikki-Izzo-Brown to Auburn when the Tigers hosted the Mountaineers.
"The first time I was on a college campus other than WVU was Auburn," Sammie said.
Call it foreshadowing.
Eighteen years later, Brown left Morgantown, West Virginia, and headed south more than 700 miles to the Plains to study biomedical sciences at Auburn University and play soccer for the Tigers.
"I wanted a change. That was the main reason," Brown said. "My mom knew Auburn was a really good program. She told me to reach out to them. They watched one of my games and that's how that happened."
Daughter and mother will reunite Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ at West Virginia, where Izzo-Brown is the only coach in program history.
"It will definitely be a surreal moment stepping on that field," Sammie Brown said. "I can't even count the amount of games I've seen played on that field. To actually play on that field will be surreal. I'm excited to play in front of my mom and excited for her to watch.
"It's definitely a little weird and will shape out to be a big game for both of us. Whichever way it goes, it will be a big result. In that sense, I have to put aside that this is my mom's team and act like they're a whole, separate team and go out there to get the win."
An annual member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Brown has earned a starting midfield position as a senior after breaking into the rotation as a junior in 2022.
"I wouldn't say it's been easy, but it's helped me grow as a person," Brown said of her quest to earn playing time on teams that often featured more experienced players. "It's been challenging but I always kept in the back of my mind: keep working and that will pay off. It's been special at the start of this season to see that hard work pay off and help my team succeed."
Brown helped her team succeed in Auburn's 3-2 win at Army on Aug. 27, scoring her first collegiate goal.
"Really exciting," Brown said. "I made a run in the box, Maquena (O'Callaghan) found my feet and I was able to beat it by the defender and sneak it in the corner."
Undefeated away from the Plains with wins at Syracuse and Army, Auburn takes a 4-1-1 record to West Virginia in the Tigers' penultimate non-conference game before beginning SEC play Sept. 15 at Mississippi State.
"We ready to attack this year with full confidence that we can do what we want to do," Brown said.
Who says you can't go home? Not Sammie Brown, whose Auburn family meets her Morgantown family Thursday night, a rematch of last season's 0-0 draw on the Plains.
"We're both good about leaving it on the field," she said. "There won't be any hard feelings after the game."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer