AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn soccer gears up for its first road match of Southeastern Conference play this week as the No. 8 Tigers venture to Texas A&M for a 7 p.m. CT matchup at Ellis Field on Thursday, Sept. 26.
“This may be the toughest environment we play in all year,” Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. “Texas A&M’s gameday experience and crowd is incredible. Their fans surround the stadium. It’s a fun environment, but it’s also very difficult and very distracting. As a team, they’re great as well. They’re obviously well-coached and their three forwards are as good as any in this league.”
Auburn (9-0-1, 1-0-1) picked up four points during the opening weekend of league play with a 2-2 draw versus Vanderbilt and a 1-0 win against Florida. The Aggies (6-4-0, 1-1-0) earned three points on the road in a 1-0 win at Missouri, also clinching the program’s 500th victory. They then dropped a tight 2-1 contest against SEC newcomer Oklahoma on Sunday.
Heading into Thursday’s match, the Tigers boast the nation’s top goals-against average (GAA) at 0.20 goals allowed per game. The Orange & Blue offense has also put away 33 goals, which ranks second in the country.
Sophomore Olivia Woodson’s six goals and two assists account for a team-leading 14 points. Senior Anna Haddock and junior Shelby Sallee narrowly trail Woodson with 13 points apiece. Haddock earned her points via three goals and seven assists while Sallee found hers from five goals and three assists.
Texas A&M has banked 18 goals and has conceded 12. The Aggies’ offense ranks tied for 10th in the league while their defense ranks 14th. Their biggest win of the season came on Aug. 15 in a 5-0 victory at Lamar. Their worst loss came a month later, on Sept. 15 in a 6-0 whomping at UConn.
Mia Pante and Sydney Becerra lead the Aggies’ attack through 10 matches this season with three goals apiece. Becerra has also collected three assists to lead her squad with nine points.
In goal, Texas A&M utilizes three different goalkeepers, however, freshman Sydney Fuller has earned the starting nod in each of their last two matches. Fuller has seen the bulk of the goalkeeping minutes and owns a 1.00 goals-against average with 15 saves on 21 shots faced.
Auburn has won just four of the previous 14 meetings with Texas A&M. The Tigers have never won a match contested in College Station.
Last season, the Tigers and Aggies battled to scoreless stalemate on The Plains. Nine of Auburn’s 11 starters from the match return this week, including goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska, who went the distance in net and dazzled with saves on all seven dangerous chances faced.
Haddock and Sydnie Thibodaux accounted for four on-frame looks in the match.
Thursday’s contest at Ellis Field is free and open to the public. SEC Network+ will carry the broadcast with Jeff Given and David Ellis on the call.