Soccer Roundup: Tigers Back to Winning Ways As Conference Play Begins

Auburn Soccer opens SEC play with win over Vanderbilt. (Photo: Auburn Athletics/Wade Rackley)

Auburn Soccer got back on the winning track following a pair of home wins over Vanderbilt and Baylor last weekend.

Auburn entered conference play with a two-game losing streak after falling to Iowa

State and Southern California during the Auburn Soccer Classic, and needed to regroup heading into their first conference match of the season.

The Tigers opened SEC play with Vanderbilt on Friday. Auburn would double the Commodores shot output, and would ultimately win the match, 2-1. Senior Brooke Ramsier and Junior Kristen Dodson scored for the Tigers. Ramsier scored on a penalty shot in the 15th minute after her twin sister, Casie, was taken down in the box. Dodson would score the final goal of the night during the 74th minute, which was Dodson’s third goal of the season.

“Obviously, we’re happy with the result,” said head coach Karen Hoppa following the win. “Any win in this conference is a great win. I thought Vanderbilt did a tremendous

job of responding to our second goal and making it a tight game. We were able to grind it out at the end, but we have got to do a better job finishing.”

Auburn’s win was the 10th straight victory over Vanderbilt.

The Tigers would step out of conference play one last time in 2016, with a match against a tough Baylor team. After battling the Bears, and the lightning, Taylor Troutman’s goal in the 70th minute would be enough for Auburn to defeat Baylor, 1-0. Despite the adversity faced with delays totalling 147 minutes, the Auburn defense proved solid, by not allowing any of Baylor’s 13 shots to net.

Auburn will continue conference play next week, with South Carolina paying a visit to the Plains for a 6PM Friday kickoff. The Tigers will then head to Gainesville, to face the Florida Gators on Sunday, kickoff schedule for 5PM.