STARKVILLE, Miss. — A hostile environment on the road was no deterrent for Auburn soccer Sunday night as the Tigers (5-2-3, 1-0-2) went blow-for-blow with No. 12 Mississippi State (7-1-1, 2-0-1) and walked away with a 1-1 draw and earned one point toward conference standings at the MSU Soccer Field.
“A really tough place to play on the road against a quality opponent,” Tigers head coach James Armstrong said. “I’m so proud of the effort from the girls from start to finish. Obviously, it stings a little bit because we feel we were so close, but overall I think a draw is probably a fair reflection of the game tonight.”
Auburn struck first in the 58th minute with a goal from junior Olivia Woodson. Mississippi State found its equalizer with less than three minutes remaining from Ally Perry.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A blocked shot from junior Grace Ivey fell to the feet of Woodson on the left side of the box. A one-touch finish from Woodson beat the keeper, who’d gone to ground to save Ivey’s look, and found a home inside the back post.
Auburn held the lead for 30 minutes before Perry struck at the death to salvage a point for the Bulldogs.
AUBURN NOTABLES
Auburn’s defense allowed just four looks on goal to a potent MSU attack. The Tigers have yet to allow more than four chances on frame in a single match through 900 minutes this season.
The draw marks the Tigers’ first time taking points off a ranked conference foe on the road since 2021, when Auburn tied No. 13 Ole Miss 2-2. It also ended the Bulldogs’ streak of 12 straight wins in league play.
Woodson heats up with her second goal in as many matches. She’s got four on the season and 17 in her career. Of the 17, nine have come on the road.
UP NEXT
Auburn hosts LSU on Thursday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.