Auburn women’s soccer faces a tough slate of games in 2018. When the schedule was released, it was revealed that 10 of Auburn’s 20 opponents reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
While Auburn joined those 10 teams in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, the Tigers are still in the midst of a rebuild. Important players such as Caroline Bado, Kristen Dodson, Ellie Leek and Courtney Schell have all graduated leaving Auburn in a position where younger players are forced to step up this year. They will be tested early and often in 2018. Here are some of the key games on Auburn’s schedule.
AT SAMFORD (SEASON OPENER), AUGUST 16
For the first time since 2015, Auburn will open the season on the road. After exhibition games against Clemson and Kennesaw State, the Tigers will make a trip to Birmingham to take on Samford.
Last season, Samford boasted a productive offense that ranked 50th in the country in goals scored per game with 1.86. The Bulldogs were consistently an offensive threat as they pressured goalkeepers with 8.71 shots on goal per game. That tally ranked fifth in the country.
Although Samford loses 48.7% of their goal scoring production from a year ago, Auburn is in a similar position where they are looking to replace important players who departed from their squad. While this is a game that the Tigers should win, new and returning players alike will be looking to solidify themselves as starters in the squad making this an important game for the team identity moving forward.
AT CAL STATE FULLERTON (GAME 5), AUGUST 31
As part of a two-game West Coast trip, Auburn heads to Fullerton, California to take on Cal State Fullerton. The Titans made it to the first round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
Defensively, Cal State Fullerton finished 35th in goals allowed per game with 0.77. They lose one defender and their goalkeeper from last year’s team, but this unit should still be just as good.
Offensively, they lose 67.6% of their goals from a year ago. Early in the season, both Auburn and Cal State Fullerton will be looking to identify who their playmakers are on the offensive end. This game will provide a gauge of where Auburn is at heading into the conference schedule a week later.
VS OLE MISS (GAME 11), SEPTEMBER 23
Auburn hosts Ole Miss at the start of a brutal three-game stretch that could define their season. The Tigers’ game against Ole Miss leads into away games against SEC powerhouses South Carolina and Texas A&M. The Rebels reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
Ole Miss had the third best offense in the country a year ago where they averaged 2.70 goals scored per game. They only lose two of their 54 goals from last year’s team. Defensively, the Rebels’ defense was average at best, but they only lost one defender to graduation so this unit should be much improved.
Ole Miss is a dark horse team in the SEC because of the amount of talent they are returning this season. It will be important for Auburn to get a win to start this tough three-game stretch in the thick of their schedule. A win at home against a possible Top 25 team will go a long way to helping Auburn’s NCAA Tournament resume.
AT SOUTH CAROLINA (GAME 12), SEPTEMBER 28
In the second game of this defining three-game stretch, Auburn travels to Columbia to take on South Carolina. The Gamecocks reached the semifinals of last year’s NCAA Tournament.
South Carolina’s defense was elite as they only surrendered 11 goals on the season. Their 0.48 goals allowed per game ranked ninth in the country. Only one defender graduated from their backline and they return star goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski who ranked 58th in the country in save percentage. She saved 83% of the shots that came her way.
Offensively, the Gamecocks weren’t as good where they ranked 88th nationally in goals scored per game. They return 70% of their goal scoring production, but they lose 54% of their assists. Their loss of playmakers could affect their overall scoring ability. Nonetheless, their defense should still carry the team.
Although it will be difficult to win on the road against a top tier SEC opponent, a victory in Columbia would significantly boost Auburn’s tournament resume.
AT TEXAS A&M (GAME 13), OCTOBER 4
Texas A&M is the final opponent of the difficult trio of games that Auburn must face in the middle of their schedule. The Aggies reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
Texas A&M was a prolific goal-scoring team a year ago. They finished 26th in the country in goals scored per game with 2.09. They return 74% of their goals and their leading goal scorer Ally Watt. With 24 of their 29 assists returning as well, Texas A&M looks to be just as dangerous offensively this year.
Defensively, the Aggies ranked 38th nationally in goals allowed per game with 0.75. With the amount of talent that Texas A&M is returning, they will provide the toughest opposition that Auburn will face in this three-game stretch. A win in College Station would be huge for Auburn as they enter the final third of the season.
VS ALABAMA (GAME 18), OCTOBER 25
Auburn concludes the 2018 regular season by hosting Alabama. The Tigers have won five straight against their cross-state rivals and 14 of the last 17 meetings. Alabama reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
Statistically, Alabama was average on both offense and defense last season. They averaged 1.57 goals per game which ranked 98th nationally. Nonetheless, 73% of their goal scoring production returns including their leading goal scorer Abbie Boswell.
Defensively, the Crimson Tide are looking to improve on their 1.33 goals allowed per game which ranked 181st in the country. However, their entire backline returns which could be a sign of improvement for the upcoming season.
Alabama should provide Auburn a difficult test with the amount of talent they are returning. While the Iron Bowl has been lopsided in recent memory, this is still an important game for Auburn as they look to end their season on a high note and carry momentum into the SEC Tournament by beating a solid SEC foe.
