AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn Tigers (10-1-1) defeated the Ole Miss Rebels (5-8) 3-0 Sunday behind another strong performance from Maddie Prohaska and a barrage of second half goals to bounce back after a bad loss last Thursday afternoon.
Following the bad loss against Texas A&M Thursday, this Auburn team knew they needed a bounce back game. Team captain Anna Haddock said “Sunday was the biggest game, and whatever happened Thursday did not matter.” However, It did not seem like it would be one early in the game, Ole Miss made some high pressure attacks that made Auburn’s defense worry, striking one that made Maddie Prohaska stretch and hit it against the crossbar. Ole Miss kept pressing the momentum, using their two strikers to pressure LJ Knox and Jessica Osborne back into their own third and into a crowded box. Then Auburn’s offense started to warm up behind the aggressive attack of Olivia Woodson and Anna Haddock. Drawing 15 fouls gave this Auburn offense a lot of early opportunities to put shots on goal against the Japanese Olympian, Shu Oba. Even with six saves against the Auburn offense, something was going to break. After halftime, the flood gates opened within minutes after Haddock and Woodson put two goals in the first five minutes of the second half. Haddock who scored in the 47th minute said it was a dream come true especially against a fantastic keeper like Shu, “one of the best in the nation”.
After the game, Coach Hoppa reaffirmed the idea “I believe we can be so much better and just challenged them to play the way we’re capable of playing and boy, the girls did exactly that.” Coach Hoppa credited the defense for helping the team stay this consistent so far, saying LJ Knox alongside Osborne were the anchors for this game leading the way for Prohaska to have her 34th career clean sheet and the tenth clean sheet this season. This 34th clean sheet makes her the Auburn record holder for the most in a career, passing Megan Riviera’s record, and puts her second all-time in SEC history.
This win puts Auburn at 11-1-1, 2-1-1 in conference play, and second in the conference behind the red hot Arkansas team, who still have not lost in conference play. Auburn will look to continue their great season against LSU in Baton Rouge on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
