It took one hundred nine minutes and fifty-seven seconds for the first goal to be scored Tuesday afternoon at the Auburn Soccer Complex between the host Tigers and visiting Ole Miss. It was Auburn that finally won the match just three seconds before the end of the second overtime on a bizarre goal. Freshman Anna Haddock took a corner kick with less than ten seconds to play. The ball bounced off an Ole Miss defender and into the back of the net to secure Auburn's first win this fall. The win moves Auburn's record to 1-0-1 on the season. The Tigers have had two matches postponed this season due to players quarantining over COVID-19 exposure, and it had been 25 days since the Tigers last played.
The Tigers did not appear to have any rust from the long hiatus, immediately going on the offensive attack. It took just 16 seconds for Kori Locksley to fire Auburn's first shot. The Tigers stayed on the attack most of the afternoon outshooting the Rebels 16-6. Auburn finished with nine shots on goal compared to just two from Ole Miss. It was quite an impressive showing by the Auburn defense led by Sarah Houchin, M.E. Craven, and goalie Maddie Prohaska. Prohaska only had to save the two shots, but her save just before halftime was quite spectacular. She leaped into the air to deflect Channing Foster's shot over the top of the net. Foster had scored against the Tigers in both the last two matches featuring these two teams.
Haddock led the Tigers offensive attack finishing with three shots on goal. Meanwhile, Locksley finished with six shots including two on goal. Hailey Whitaker, Sydney Richards, Hannah Waesch, and Maddie Simpson all recorded one shot on goal apiece.
There were a total of eighteen fouls and three yellow cards during the match. Ole Miss collected 11 fouls and two yellow cards compared to seven fouls and one yellow card from the Tigers.
The Auburn soccer team is next in action on Sunday, October 18 when they travel to Athens to take on the rival Georgia Bulldogs. Their next home match is Saturday, October 24 at 6 p.m. when the Kentucky Wildcats come visiting. All home Auburn soccer games can be heard on WEGL 91.1 FM.
