AUBURN, Ala. — Late heroics from Auburn’s Olivia Woodson saw the Tigers (5-2-2) pick up their first Southeastern Conference win of the season in a 1-0 thriller versus Texas A&M (3-3-3) Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Both squads remained scoreless until the 84th minute, when Woodson broke through with a clutch header to give the Tigers a late lead, which they held until the final whistle.
“It was a long run I made. I was just trying to get into the box, so I could get something on it,” Woodson said. “It was a really good ball from Erin (Flurey). We had a lot of shots, but we were having trouble putting them into the back of the net, so I was just trying my best to get on the end of it to put one away.”
For large stretches of the match, Auburn was the better team, creating 19 chances, including 11 on goal, as compared to just five shots from the Aggies. The Tigers also limited Texas A&M to just two corner kicks, their lowest total of the season, while creating nine attacking corners of their own.
“Better late than never,” head coach James Armstrong said. “It was one of those games where we were creating lots of chances again. It can be frustrating to not see any of those go in, but thankfully, our girls kept doing what they were doing to create those opportunities, and they never stopped believing that we’d get one in the back of the net.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
A wonderful series of eight connected passes that started with a loose ball won from junior Grace Ivey resulted in the difference-maker. The final two passes came from junior Dylan Driver, who found senior Erin Flurey in space on the right side. Flurey made her run up the edge of the box before unleashing a beautiful cross that found Woodson barreling in around the penalty spot. Woodson headed in a screamer past the Aggie keeper and inside the left post.
AUBURN NOTABLES
Woodson’s goal was the 16th of her career, and the fifth that proved to be a game-winner. Flurey picked up her first Auburn assist on the play. Driver earned her 15th. She’s up to seven assists in her last seven appearances.
Auburn’s defense held a strong Texas A&M offense to a season-low in shots (5), shots on goal (2) and corner kicks (2). More impressively, the Tigers allowed just a single shot from the agitated Aggies after scoring the go-ahead with six-plus minutes remaining. The clean sheet goes down as the team’s sixth of the year through only nine matches.
Newly converted defender Jordyn Crosby went the full 90 minutes for the first time in her career and had no issues holding down the left back position against any and all tests she faced. Also seeing career highs in minutes played were Driver (76) up top and freshman Gracie Brown (64) in the midfield.
UP NEXT
Auburn heads to Starkville, Mississippi to face the No. 12 Bulldogs on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. CT.