AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn soccer's dominant defense struck again as the Tigers' back line went toe-to-toe with the league's top goal-scorers, Texas A&M, and played to a 0-0 draw Friday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Auburn moved to 6-5-4 overall and 2-3-2 in SEC play, picking up its eighth point in conference action.
"Hats off to the defense tonight," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We played great on that end of the ball, and not just the defenders and (Maddie) Prohaska. We had strong team defense all night. I felt that our chances were more dangerous than theirs. We were just unlucky to not put one in."
The Tigers and the Aggies ripped off a combined 13 shots on frame, but neither was able to sneak it past the opposing goalkeeper. Auburn's Maddie Prohaska collected saves on all seven chances she faced, tying the second-most by the senior in a match this season. With the shutout, she hung the 23rd clean sheet of her Orange & Blue tenure.
Prohaska came up clutch with what was likely the play of the match following a breakaway on a counterattack from Texas A&M's Sam Smith. Smith got just outside the six and attempted to put one in far post, but Prohaska made an all-out diving effort to save the shot with her chest.
The West Chester, Ohio native now has 50 saves on the season and is eight away from becoming the sixth keeper in school history to join the 250 career saves club.
"We were hungry for a shutout," Prohaska said. "Obviously, we didn't get one on the board, but we handled a lot of the details right today. We're still trying to have our best performance on both ends of the ball for the full 90, but there is nothing to hang our heads about."
Other major shutout contributors for the Tigers were defenders Mallory Mooney, Hayden Colson, LJ Knox and Erin Houston as well as holding midfielders Anna Haddock and Sammie Brown. The group collaborated to stifle the Aggies' potent attack and hold it scoreless for just the fourth time this year.
Offensively, Auburn created 10 shots, six of which came on frame, from five women. Haddock led the Tigers' scoring effort with a trio of strikes, including a dangerous ball from the left edge of the box in the 59th minute that was on pace to penetrate a few inches below the crossbar, however, TAMU's Kenna Caldwell got fingers on the shot to tip it away at the last second.
Fifth-year Sydney Richards accounted for a pair of dangerous opportunities of her own, sticking two of three attempts on frame. Junior Sydnie Thibodaux placed one on-goal as well. Senior Sammie Brown and freshman Olivia Woodson were accountable for creating the remaining Orange & Blue chances.
Up next, the Tigers head south to Gainesville to square off with the Florida Gators Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. CT. The match will be available to stream on SECN+.
