PENSACOLA, Fla. — Auburn soccer battled back from a 1-0 deficit to edge out Tennessee 2-1 Sunday night at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex and advance to the second round of the 2023 SEC Tournament in Pensacola, Florida. Auburn found its goals from a pair of first-time scorers in the Orange & Blue, Becky Contreras and Haley Duca.
Top-seeded Arkansas awaits Auburn in the following round. That match kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
"I'm so proud of the way we responded and the way we grew into that game," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We gave up an early goal, but we didn't get down about it. I always tell them that this is a game of mistakes. They happen. What matters is what you do after them, and boy did we put up a response. We're glad to be here and to keep working toward securing our postseason."
Tennessee threw the first punch with a goal from Kameron Simmonds in the 17th minute. Auburn responded with two of its own as the first half wound down. Contreras leveled the score in the 38th minute and Duca put the Orange & Blue on top for good with her first career goal in the 41st minute.
Senior Anna Haddock initiated Auburn's game-tying play, passing back to Maddie Prohaska when under pressure. Prohaska played a long ball that took one bounce three yards from the edge of the goal zone and found Contreras making a run on left post. Contreras opted for the header and powered the ball just out of the reach of the Tennessee keeper to tuck it inside near post.
It was the ninth goal of Contreras' career, but her first as a Tiger after transferring from Kennesaw State prior to the start of the season. Prohaska picked up an assist on the play, the first of her tenure. She became the first Auburn goalkeeper to earn an assist since Alyse Scott versus Memphis in 2014.
"I saw her (Prohaska) ball going further than her normal balls do and I knew I had to turn it on and run for it," Contreras said. "I made the decision to head it and it worked out for us. It was truly a special moment for me to come up big for my team and get my first goal here at Auburn."
The stalemate lasted less than four minutes as Duca's dime penetrated the goal line at 40:49. Freshman Olivia Woodson created the chance after forcing a Lady Vol defender to kick the ball over the end line for an Auburn corner kick. Junior Sydnie Thibodaux took the corner, and her service was headed away by Tennessee, however, it fell right to Duca who was locking the box. She booted the ball up across the face of the goal from the right edge of the penalty arc with the right spin and speed to overlap the opposing back line. It fell just under the crossbar to give the Tigers the 2-1 lead.
"It meant everything to me to score in that moment with my Auburn family on the bench and the field and my real family in the stands," Duca said. "I always joke about scoring, but for me to actually get one in the SEC Tournament was a dream come true."
After the offensive outburst to close the first half, Auburn's defense took over in the second half. The back line limited the Lady Vols to two shots on target. Prohaska picked up a pair of saves in the final 45 minutes.
Fifth year Sydney Richards provided the ultimate, game-saving play in the match's final four minutes. The veteran known for her attacking prowess put her body on the line to clear a ball inches in front of the goal line and disrupt any final hope of a Tennessee comeback.
Statistically, Auburn put 12 shots on the board and stuck five on goal. The Tigers outmatched the Lady Vols on corner kicks 6-3. Auburn's corners were created by senior Sammie Brown, Woodson, Duca and Richards. Brown and Woodson were responsible for forcing two apiece. Duca, Haddock, Contreras and freshman Jessica Osborne all contributed to the defensive effort with blocked shots.
Auburn improved to 8-6-5 on the season. Tennessee fell to 8-6-4.
