Auburn, Ala. - After a less than ideal start to the SEC slate, falling 1-0 at the hands of Mississippi State, Auburn soccer looks to get back on track with its first win since September 3rd against American. The Blue & Orange will play host to Missouri in the battle of the tigers in Auburn’s SEC home opener in front of what is hopeful to be a full crowd.
"We're really hoping for a big crowd this week," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "It's an important game for us against a team who is riding high right now. Missouri is a very hard-working club, so they're going to make us earn every opportunity, which is what conference play is all about."
Auburn looks to secure its first win since early September. Possibly the most concerning part of the recent skid in performance is that Auburn has only scored one goal in the last three contest, which came in a draw with West Virginia.
Recently, Missouri has been nothing short of opposite from Auburn. The squad from Columbia has secured three straight wins, including a 3-2 win at Florida to start its own SEC schedule.
Kylee Simmons is undoubtedly the spark behind the unstoppable Missouri attack. The forward has been an outstanding this season, scoring seven goals and notching two assists in just eight matches.
They key to slowing down the forward for Auburn will be the duo of LJ Knox and Mallory Mooney. The center back pairing has starter all nine games together, forging a strong defensive presence.
Anna Haddock will be a crucial to any success Auburn will have on the attacking side of the ball. The midfielder has been the engine behind the squad, starting every game possible since freshman year. Haddock leads the team in points behind two goals and three assists.
Auburn will have to be sharp in all aspects of the game to be able to come away with the programs fourth victory against Missouri. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and be broadcasted on SECN+ and WEGL 91.1 FM.
