Tigers bow out of NCAA Tournament with 2-1 loss to Ohio State

Tigers bow out of NCAA Tournament with 2-1 loss to Ohio StateTigers bow out of NCAA Tournament with 2-1 loss to Ohio State
David Gray

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — One of the best seasons in the recent history of Auburn soccer came to an end Friday evening as the No. 24 Tigers fell 2-1 to No. 10 Ohio State in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“Always devastating when you lose and end the season, but our team fought to the very end,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. “We gave ourselves chances to even the game and just couldn’t get it done. Proud of them. They gave everything they had. It was a great season.”

Auburn battled back after surrendering a pair of first-half goals to the Buckeyes in minutes 32 and 44. The Tigers found their equalizer from sophomore Olivia Woodson in the 85th minute thanks to a fantastic final pass from senior Becky Contreras.

Woodson concluded the season with 11 goals, the most from an Auburn woman since Kristen Dodson bagged 13 in 2016.

Senior Anna Haddock earned her 97th career start in the match, tying Alyssa Malonson (2017-21) for the program record. Haddock hangs up her boots with 44 assists, the most from any player in school history. She recorded 13 in her final season on The Plains, matching the single-season record.

Another record-smashing senior, goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska, leaves the program as its all-time shutouts leader with 36. In her 96 career appearances, she recorded a 0.93 goals-against average and 291 saves, good for second and sixth in the Orange & Blue record books.