Soccer blanks Southern Illinois 3-0 at home

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by Riley Hubbard
Two soccer players in white uniforms celebrate on a green field at night, with one extending her arms toward the other.Two soccer players in white uniforms celebrate on a green field at night, with one extending her arms toward the other.
Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn soccer finished its three-game homestand to open the 2026 season on a high note Thursday evening, defeating Southern Illinois 3-0. In their third straight clean sheet, the Tigers did not allow a shot from the Salukis while taking 23 shots.

Dylan Driver and Chloe Taylor each recorded their second goals of the season Thursday, while freshman Torrey Polk earned her first.

“We’re just trying to grow each and every game,” said Auburn head coach James Armstrong. “We had multiple goalscorers again tonight with three goals and a clean sheet. A lot of corners, and we need to be better in that regard, but I think we are building momentum and we’re looking forward to having a break from games this weekend. Trying to get some players healthy again and looking forward to Kennesaw State and playing away against a good team.”

Auburn maintained control of possession for nearly 80 percent of the contest, putting eight of its 23 shots on target. The Tigers also earned 13 corner kicks throughout the match, including seven in the first half alone.

In the 13th minute, Driver received a pass before setting up Taylor with a left-footed lob that sailed just over the head of goalkeeper Reagan Miller to give Auburn the lead. The goal marked the second in as many matches for the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week and helped the Tigers take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

“It was a little bit of a scrappy play, but a goal is a goal,” Taylor said about her score. “I was just excited to get us up 1-0, especially in the first half when they were setting up a low block. We just needed a breakthrough to get the momentum going, and we finished it off with another couple.”

Driver contributed to the offense again in the second half, scoring on a pass from Kelly Gordon in the 61st minute and celebrating with the students in the newly established Chaos Corner at the Auburn Soccer Complex.

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Auburn continued to play strong defense, and in the 84th minute, Polk’s shot from just outside the penalty box was deflected off a defender and into the upper corner to extend the Tigers’ lead to 3-0. Polk’s first career goal came on her fourth shot of the night and second shot on target.

The win improves Auburn’s record to 2-0-1 on the season and marked the Tigers’ second straight victory. Up next, Auburn will face its first road test of 2026 against Kennesaw State on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. CT.