AUBURN, Ala. — Thanks to the boot of sophomore Jordyn Crosby and an all-out effort from the defense, No. 6 Auburn soccer picked up its ninth win of the season as the Tigers (9-0-1, 1-0-1) knocked off Florida (3-2-5, 0-1-1) in a tight 1-0 match Sunday afternoon at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
“It wasn’t the prettiest win we’ve ever had, but any win against an SEC team is a big win,” Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. “To get three points and have four total after Opening Weekend is a great start in this league. Hopefully, we can learn a lot and take some momentum from this.”
Crosby poked in her fourth career game-winner in the 65th minute following a free kick from 12 yards outside the box. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska made two saves, including a clutch one-versus-one kick save in the dying minutes of the first half, to solidify Auburn’s ninth clean sheet of the season.
“Sunday matches are hard, and when you get to SEC play, it’s a different kind of hard,” Prohaska said. “Everyone put everything they had on the line. Everyone put their bodies on the line. That’s what this team stands for and what Auburn stands for. It’s a lot of grit and determination.”
With the shutout, Prohaska officially ties Megan Rivera’s program record of 33 clean sheets. The milestone also sees the West Chester, Ohio native rise to second in Southeastern Conference history.
It was a slow start for the Tigers on Sunday as they mustered just two shots in the first half. The Gators created four looks, two on frame, in the opening 45 minutes. Auburn turned up the intensity, both offensively and defensively, in the final half to outshoot Florida 10-3. The Tigers’ defense held the Gators with a look on frame in the second 45.
A dicey ball off the crossbar in the final minute of the match was Florida’s only dangerous chance of the half.
In minute 65, senior Anna Haddock drew a free kick inside Auburn’s final third to set the Tigers up for their best look of the match. Senior Sydnie Thibodaux faked a shot off the set piece, leaving it for Haddock to serve into a chaotic frenzy inside the box. Haddock’s ball found senior Becky Contreras, who flicked it on to Crosby for the one-time shot that was deflected off a Florida defender and into the low right side of the goal.
It was Crosby’s seventh career goal and her second as a Tiger.
“I just wanted to have the tenacity to get to goal,” Crosby said. “I knew I had to want to get to goal and want to score instead of being unsure and wasting an opportunity. I felt ready in the moment and knew it was my opportunity to attack.”
Up next, Auburn hits the road for the first time in league play as the Tigers trek to Bryan-College Station to meet Texas A&M for 7 p.m. CT showdown on Thursday, Sept. 26.