AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn soccer will celebrate its alumni and 32-year history with a match versus Florida Gulf Coast Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT on SECN+. JJ Jackson and Nick Flohre have the call. Radio coverage can be found at WEGL 91.1.
“It’s great to be back home. We’re just hoping we can get a good crowd out there to cheer on our team and show some love to the alumni who graced the field before them.
“Florida Gulf Coast is another favorite to win their conference this year. They’ll be a really good test for us before we kick off SEC play right afterward.”
AUBURN NOTABLES
Auburn returns home following a respectable week in Utah, playing hard but falling to No. 11 BYU and beating a talented Utah Valley 2-0.
Auburn’s defense stood tall against UVU, limiting the Wolverines to a season-low one shot on goal and shutting them out for the first time in 15 matches. It was also Utah Valley’s first loss in UCCU Stadium.
Senior Erin Flurey scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the first 10 minutes against Utah Valley. She drew a foul in the box to earn a penalty kick for the Tigers before putting the chance away herself.
Freshman Gracie Brown added a little insurance to the win in Orem, scoring her first collegiate goal in the 80th minute to put the match out of reach. Senior Dylan Driver assisted Brown to earn her team-leading fourth assist of the year.
SCOUTING FGCU
Led by 19th-year head coach Jim Blankenship, the Eagles roll into town on a 2-2-1 head-to-head record that includes victories over Webber International (6-0) and Florida Atlantic (2-1).
Auburn will be FGCU’s third Southeastern Conference foe this season. LSU beat the Eagles 6-1 in the second match of the year, and Florida bested them 2-1 Thursday night.
ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Erika Zschuppe leads FGCU with four goals on 15 shots. She’s accounted for both game-winners so far. Ava Boyd and Kendal Gargiula also scored two apiece.
Defenders Lauren Dwyer and Elena Hinkson lead the Eagles backline and have played all but 30 minutes this season. Dwyer was named the ASUN Preseason Defender of the Year.
Madara Matrevica holds it down between the posts. She has saved 16 of 23 shots faced for a 1.59 goals-against average. She made six saves against the reigning C-USA champion, FIU, to record the first solo shutout of her career last week.
Auburn and FGCU have only met once prior, in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, a matchup that went the Tigers’ way 1-0. Haley Gerken bagged the match-winner in the 11th minute with assists from Tori Ball and Chelsea Gandy-Cromer.
PROMOTIONS
Auburn will treat its soccer alumni in attendance to a special halftime recognition. Auburn soccer history scarves will also be given away to the first 100 fans in attendance.
Photos and autographs from the coaches and players will be available for 10 minutes following the completion of the match.
As always, all matches are free and open to the public.