AUBURN, Ala. — Fresh off a thrilling victory last week in its season opener, No. 15 Auburn soccer looks to continue its winning ways as it welcomes Southern Miss and Coastal Carolina to the Auburn Soccer Complex Thursday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 25 for a pair of Senior Weekend matches.
Thursday’s kickoff versus the Golden Eagles is set for 6:30 p.m. CT while Sunday’s bout with the Chanticleers will commence at 2 p.m. CT.
All 13 members of the program’s senior class will be honored during pregame ceremonies prior to both matches. Thursday’s match will recognize Maddy Bondon, Olivia Candelino, Haley Duca, Anna Haddock, Jaycie Silhan and Carly Thatcher. On Sunday, the Tigers celebrate Sammie Brown, Becky Contreras, LJ Knox, Mallory Mooney, Madeline Moore, Maddie Prohaska and Sydnie Thibodaux.
“We’re trying something new this year with such a large senior class,” head coach Karen Hoppa said. “We wanted to take the entire weekend to really give all 13 players their due for what they have given to our program. It’ll be an exciting pair of matches against two good opponents.”
Auburn (1-0-0) rolls into the weekend riding the momentum of a 4-0 win against No. 5 Clemson, the largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in school history. The Tigers found goal creation from the likes of junior Erin Houston, sophomore Dylan Driver, sophomore Olivia Woodson and Haddock, Mooney and Contreras.
Thanks to defensive leaders Prohaska and Knox, the Orange & Blue back line also held Clemson scoreless for just the second time over its previous 17 regular season matches. Following the shutout, Prohaska was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Knox was rewarded with a spot on Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week.
Led by 12th-year head coach Mohammed El-Zare, Southern Miss (1-0-0) makes its way to The Plains unblemished after opening the season with a 5-0 win against Mississippi Valley State. The Tigers and Golden Eagles have met on three previous occasions in history, resulting in a 6-0 win for the Tigers in 2013, a 2-0 win for the Golden Eagles in 2019, and a 9-0 win for the Tigers in 2022.
Auburn returns nine players who saw time in the 2022 clash, including five players who combined for four goals and four assists in the match. Junior Hayden Colson scored her first career goal in the 49th minute.
Coastal Carolina (0-0-1) opened up its season with a 1-1 draw at home against Richmond. The Chanticleers will face UNC Wilmington on the road Wednesday, Aug. 21 before making their way to Auburn. Jo Chubb leads the CCU program in her second season as head coach.
Sunday marks the first meeting in history between Auburn and Coastal Carolina.
Both of the weekend’s contests are set be broadcast via SEC Network+ with Brit Bowen and Nick Flohre 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 collectible Auburn soccer vuvuzelas while supplies last. Aubie’s Kids Club members will receive 600 points and an exclusive soccer t-shirt on Sunday.