AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn (12-2-4, 4-2-4) fell to No. 22 South Carolina (8-1-7, 5-1-3) 2-1 Saturday afternoon in Columbia to finish the regular season. The Tigers battled back after allowing a goal toward the end of the first period but could not complete the comeback. Despite the loss, Auburn finished SEC play with a 4-2-4 record - good enough for the fifth in the SEC.
“Really disappointed. We had opportunities to win the game, but we didn’t get it done,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. “Credit South Carolina, they made the most of their chances. It’s something we’re going to have to learn from and build on. It’ll become fuel for our fire as we head into the SEC Tournament.”
Auburn traveled to Columbia after finishing the regular season unbeaten at home. Auburn proved tough to score on, but South Carolina's Emma Bucci found the net in the 42nd minute to give the Gamecocks the lead. Auburn quickly responded with a goal by Jordyn Crosby, in the 44th minute. Olivia Candelino was credited with the assist. However, the Tigers failed to score again.
“When the ball fell to me, all I could see was the touch was at our home field and all I could think about was how many times I had practiced that exact volley,” Crosby said. “I knew that I had spent hours working with that wall for a moment like that. I knew what my job was, and I found confidence in my preparation.”
South Carolina scored once more in the 57th minute on a goal by Catherine Berry. The score early in the second period would be all the Gamecocks would need. Auburn totaled six shots on goal in the match, but South Carolina's keeper, Christina Tsaousis, made five saves. Auburn keeper, Maddie Prohaska made three saves on five shots on goal.
Despite the regular season ending with a loss, the Tigers have plenty of play ahead of them. After a strong regular season, the attention now turns to the postseason, and the Tigers hope to make some noise. It all starts at the SEC Tournament in Pensacola, Florida.
As of Sunday evening, Auburn sits in fifth place in the SEC. However, weather make-up matches are still to be played before official seeding is set for the SEC Tournament. The top-12 teams in the conference currently are Arkansas, Mississippi State, Texas, South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, and Missouri.
The SEC Tournament begins on November 3. Auburn hopes to make a run at the SEC Championship.
