AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn soccer will be back in action Friday night against the No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks.
“South Carolina always presents a challenge because they are great on both sides of the ball,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. “Our key is going to be starting the game well and preventing them from scoring early because if they do, they can lock you down as good as anyone in the country. It’ll be an entertaining matchup under the Friday night lights, so we hope the Auburn Family shows up in full force.”
The Tiger return to The Plains after a scoreless contest in Oxford, Mississippi, against the Ole Miss Rebels. Auburn will look to replicate last time out at home, as it secured a 3-2 victory against Missouri for the first SEC win of the year.
Sydney Richards will play a pivotable role in the attack for Auburn. The fifth year notched a brace in the win against Missouri and logging four shots against Ole Miss.
Anna Haddock is once again a crucial part to any success the Tigers will have this upcoming match. The midfielder leads the team in assist at five and second most goals with three.
If there is any opportunity for Auburn to strike on one of the best teams in the nation it is now. The Gamecocks are coming off a weekend which saw only goal scored and two ties.
The defensive duo of Jessica Osborne and LJ Knox will be tasked with the ultimate test this matchup, as Gamecock forward Catherine Barry has not missed a beat this year, scoring seven goals along with four assists in 11 matches.
Possibly the most concerning part for Hoppa and the Tigers is that Barry has recorded 54 shots, 18 more than the next closest on the team. In comparison, Auburn’s leading shot taker, Sydney Richards, has 27 total shots through the same number of games.
Auburn will have to be at its best against South Carolina in its search for its first win against the Gamecocks since 2013. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on SECN+ as well as WEGL 91.1 FM.
