AUBURN, Ala. — Soccer is back on The Plains as the Auburn Tigers open the 2024 season at home, hosting No. 5 Clemson Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
The season marks the 26th under the leadership of head coach Karen Hoppa.
“Really blessed to have been leading this program for so long. I never would’ve guessed it when I took the job in 1999,” Hoppa said. “Auburn is truly a wonderful place with great people, and we’re excited to get back onto the field and play for the Auburn family this season.”
Last year, the Tigers posted an 8-7-5 head-to-head record highlighted by an appearance in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals. Auburn’s defense issued seven shutouts, including four in conference play, while the offense netted 26 goals.
For Clemson, 2023 consisted of an 18-4-4 season that ended with an appearance in the NCAA Final Four. The Tigers fell 2-0 to eventual national champion Florida State in the semifinal match.
Auburn and Clemson have faced off 10 times in their respective histories with eight of the meetings ending in favor of the latter. Auburn picked up a 2-0 victory at home in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Also on The Plains, both sides battled to a scoreless draw in double overtime to open the 2013 season.
The teams have not met in official competition since spring of the 2020-21 season where Clemson broke through in the 84th minute to solidify a 1-0 win. Auburn returns five players who saw time in the match, including goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska who went the distance, making four saves on five shots faced.
Prohaska and fellow captain Anna Haddock were named to the SEC’s Preseason Watch List this year for a fourth consecutive season.
In 75 career appearances, Prohaska boasts a 0.97 goals-against average behind 25 clean sheets and a whopping 259 saves. She is one of two returning SEC goalkeepers with at least 25 career shutouts to their credit.
The West Chester, Ohio product is not only known for her stellar defensive capabilities but also her ability to initiate an attack as last season, she became the first Auburn keeper to receive an assist in nearly 10 years with her service on Becky Contreras’ goal in the Tigers’ 2-1 defeat of Tennessee in the opening round of the SEC Tournament.
Another player who is no stranger to chance creation, Haddock enters her final season sitting on 31 career assists, 11 shy of matching the school record set by Katy Frierson in 2011. In 2023, Haddock finished four goals and assisted on seven others en route to being named Second Team All-SEC and SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Bowling Green, Kentucky native ranks third amongst active Division I players for career assists, second only to Lexi Missimo and Trinity Byars of Texas.
In addition to Prohaska and Haddock, the Tigers look to lean on the experience of their 13-player senior class, the largest in program history, to make waves this season. Other members of the senior core include Maddy Bondon, Sammie Brown, Olivia Candelino, Contreras, Haley Duca, LJ Knox, Mallory Mooney, Madeline Moore, Jaycie Silhan, Carly Thatcher and Sydnie Thibodaux.
“We want to have a special year for these seniors,” Hoppa said. “They made a commitment to this program and this wonderful university to come back for one more season, which is not commonplace in the NCAA anymore. Our mission is to send them out the right way.”
Auburn’s season-opening match will be broadcast via SEC Network+ with Brit Bowen and JJ Jackson on the call. Radio coverage will be provided via WEGL 91.1.
As always, matches at the Auburn Soccer Complex are free and open to the public. Fans in attendance on Thursday will receive a tie-dye slim can koozie while supplies last.