AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn soccer kickstarted the 2024 season with a statement win over No. 5 Clemson, taking down the Tigers 4-0 Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex, marking the largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history.
“I saw a team putting the pieces together,” Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. “Boy, they really played together and stuck to the game plan. We scored some great goals and defended our tail off.”
The win was Auburn’s first over a top five opponent since toppling No. 5 Duke 1-0 in 2011.
“I saw a team putting the pieces together.”@AUCoachHoppa recaps 4-0 @AuburnSoccer season-opening win over No. 5 Clemson ⤵️
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) August 16, 2024
“It was a great crowd & it really helped us.”#WarEagle https://t.co/nYmlI1DsgV pic.twitter.com/eh8FDtJoe6
Auburn put a pair on the board in the first half via an own goal from Clemson in the third minute and a crafty finish from sophomore Dylan Driver in the 29th.
The Orange & Blue offense poured on the pressure in the second half, netting two more while holding the clean sheet. Sophomore Olivia Woodson scored Auburn’s third in minute 53, and senior Becky Contreras headed in the fourth in minute 66.
“We knew we had to come out strong, get stronger, and finish at our strongest,” Contreras said. “We have been talking about this game for a long time because we knew they were going to be a good opponent, so it was a great feeling to come out and show what we can do.”
Auburn’s offense outshot Clemson 13-10 and placed eight of its chances on frame. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska denied four dangerous chances from the Clemson attack, including a massive kick save in the dying minutes to uphold her 26th career shutout.
The shutout was the Tigers’ first over a ranked foe since holding No. 21 West Virginia scoreless in 2022.
It did not take long for Auburn to find its first goal of the 2024 season. In the third minute, junior Erin Houston sent a heavy ball into the box in search of Woodson, forcing action from Clemson’s Eleanor Hays who ultimately could not handle the pace on the pass and sent the ball backward into her own net.
Senior Mallory Mooney initiated Auburn’s second of the evening, taking advantage of turnover from Clemson to drive upfield and send a ball through to Driver who was making a perfectly timed run through the opposing back line. Driver took two touches before tucking a right-footed shot inside the near post.
Woodson’s third career goal put the Tigers up 3-0 in minute 53. The Richmond, Virginia product picked the pocket of a Clemson midfielder and then used her speed to make a near box-to-box run before finishing a sharp-angle shot into far post from the top of 18.
POUR. IT. ON. 💥@AuburnSoccer x @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/ku84EOr0W0
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) August 16, 2024
“Tonight was huge,” Woodson said. “The support was amazing. It definitely feels like I made the right decision picking Auburn as my school. It is just one big community, and we’re all family.”
It was Contreras who put the final nail in the coffin in the 66th minute. Crafty play from senior Anna Haddock won the Orange & Blue a trio of consecutive corner kicks, the third of which was headed into the back of the net by Contreras thanks to a great serve from Haddock.
Contreras bagged her 10th career goal while Haddock notched her 32nd career assist.
Up next, Auburn stays home to host Southern Miss on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match kicks off Senior Weekend on The Plains as the Tigers’ 13 seniors will be honored pregame.