AUBURN, Ala. — No. 6 Auburn soccer used an all-out team effort to pick up its eighth consecutive shutout victory with a 2-0 win against Old Dominion Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex, securing a perfect 8-0-0 record in nonconference play.
“That’s just the way we want to wrap up the nonconference season,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. “That’s a great result against a very good team who had a great gameplan. We scored two incredible goals and did enough defensively to keep the clean sheet and win the game.”
Auburn’s defense allowed just one shot on goal while Shelby Sallee and Becky Contreras each netted one of their own to propel the Tigers to victory. Auburn joins Oklahoma State as the only two squads in the nation who have yet to concede this season.
The Tigers’ offense generated 13 chances and placed seven of them on frame. Sophomore Olivia Woodson got off a career-high five shots in the contest.
For the Monarchs, chances were few and far between as six shots, one on goal, were all they were able to muster up. Auburn also denied Old Dominion of any attacking corner kicks. It is the second time the Orange & Blue defense has locked down a zero-corner match this season.
“That was fun,” senior defender LJ Knox said. “This team is really good at tuning out the outside noise and what others are saying about us. We know what we’re capable of when we play together. If we can get one percent better every day, we’re going to keep have fun games like tonight.”
Auburn broke with its first goal of the match in the 18th minute. Senior Carly Thatcher played a heavy ball up the right side to Sallee who made a good run up the flank before cutting in and around an aggressive goalkeeper whose mistake left the net wide open for a left-footed pass into the far post corner.
Sallee’s score goes in the book as the game-winner. It is her third game-winning goal in the last four matches.
In the 62nd minute, Contreras headed in the Tigers’ second of the night. Woodson picked up her second assist of the season, making a lengthy run up the left side of the pitch and to the endline before pounding a cross directly to the head of Contreras who was found making a perfectly timed near-post run.
It was Contreras’ third goal of the season. All three of her goals have been scored via header.
Auburn buckled down for the final 30 minutes of the match to keep the scoreline intact. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska made one late save to uphold the clean sheet.
Prohaska now sits on 32 career shutouts, one shy of tying Megan Rivera’s program record.
Up next, Auburn kickstarts Southeastern Conference competition as the Vanderbilt Commodores make their way to The Plains on Thursday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.