No. 11 Auburn bounces again with shut out vs. Aggies

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 11 Auburn bounced again from a tricky loss Thursday to defeat Texas A&M, 3-0, Sunday afternoon on the Auburn Soccer Complicated.

The win was Auburn’s sixth in seven dwelling contests this season with the lone loss coming by one aim to the No. 1 workforce within the nation.

“I am actually happy with our bounce-back efficiency,” head coach Karen Hoppa mentioned. “At the moment, we rebounded and we performed a lot better soccer. It was a good consequence in opposition to a extremely good Texas A&M workforce. They’re defending co-champions, and I assumed our workforce was excellent.”

Auburn (8-2-0, 2-1-0 SEC) held a Texas A&M (5-5-1, 1-2-0 SEC) workforce that ranked top-30 within the nation in factors and not using a shot on aim within the contest. In the meantime, the workforce’s three targets have been two greater than another workforce scored in opposition to the Aggies this season.

“You see the rating line, however to essentially take into consideration the protection – zero photographs on aim in opposition to a extremely harmful Texas A&M workforce. It was a wonderful efficiency,” Hoppa added.

All of Auburn’s targets got here off set items as M.E. Craven scored on a free kick from the defending half of midfield whereas each Sydney Richards and Anna Haddock transformed penalty kicks.

“I used to be simply making an attempt to get it in so somebody might flick or head it,” Craven mentioned. “It took a extremely good bounce for us and caught the keeper a little bit off guard.”

Craven’s aim was her second of the season, each of which have confirmed to be sport winners. In the meantime, the senior captain additionally performed a key position within the Tigers’ defensive effort that resulted within the workforce’s fourth shutout within the final six video games.

“Our mindset was to cowl for one another as a result of there are all the time going to be errors on the again line,” Craven added. “We simply actually backed one another up.”

“Communication was undoubtedly key. We have been speaking much more than final sport,” Malonson added of the defensive effort. “It is undoubtedly completely different play heart again. I’ve performed just a few video games right here and there so I am getting used to it. It has been good up to now.”

Craven began the scoring within the contest as she served the free kick from past midfield, practically 70 yards from the aim, and the ball bounded over the Texas A&M goalkeeper and into the again of the web.

Twelve minutes later, Carly Thatcher cut up a pair of Aggie defenders and drew a foul contained in the field to arrange the primary penalty kick. Richards stepped to the spot and put the try into the again of the web because the Texas A&M goalkeeper dove the wrong way. The aim was Richards’ third of the season.

Main 2-0 at halftime, the Auburn protection continued to carry robust whereas the offense stayed on assault within the second half, in the end outshooting Texas A&M 11-6 within the contest. Practically half of the Tigers’ makes an attempt have been on body.

Texas native Sydnie Thibodaux drew the penalty kick that in the end resulted within the workforce’s third and ultimate aim of the sport. Haddock stepped up and buried the kick previous the goalkeeper, marking her team-high eighth aim of the season.

Nineteen gamers in the end noticed motion within the contest, together with 4 freshman who performed vital minutes in SEC play. 5 Texas natives performed pivotal roles within the contest.

“It is a fantastic feeling,” Hannah Waesch mentioned of the win. “Clearly, Texas A&M is a superb program they usually have been for a few years. I’ve many teammates that I performed membership with on that workforce, so getting a win is tremendous thrilling for me.”

The Tigers return on the street to tackle No. 19 South Carolina (8-2-0, 3-0-0 SEC) Friday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. CT in Columbia, S.C.