Sept. 16, 2016 Auburn vs. South Carolina
(5-3-0, 1-0-0 SEC) vs. (7-0-1, 1-0-0 SEC)
Match
| Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 | 6 p.m. | |
| Auburn vs. South Carolina | ||
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn soccer team is set for a conference clash with No. 14 South Carolina on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Auburn Soccer Complex and will be broadcasted to a national audience on the SEC Network.
The Tigers (5-3-0, 1-0-0 SEC) come into the evening duel having won their last two games at home. Brooke Ramsier and Kristen Dodson took care of the offense by scoring goals in Auburn's 2-1 victory over Vanderbilt last Friday, while Taylor Troutman found the back of the net in the 70th minute to take down Baylor on Sunday, 1-0.
Since head coach Karen Hoppa took over the program, the Tigers have amassed 27 wins against ranked teams, including 12 since 2010. Last season, Auburn accumulated four wins versus ranked competition, including three at home and in conference play.
The Tigers are search of their first 2-0-0 start to SEC play since 2011, when they went on to finish second in the West. Auburn has won its first two matches in league play three times since 2000.
South Carolina (7-0-1, 1-0-0) leads the overall series, 10-6-4, but it was Auburn who emerged victorious in the last meeting as Ellie Leek converted the final penalty in a 5-3 shootout to send the Tigers to the SEC Tournament Semifinals last campaign.
Preceding the contest, head men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, along with his staff, will be cooking wings and ribs for Auburn University students. The free cookout will take place outside the entrance gate at 5:30 p.m.
Following its matchup with South Carolina, Auburn will hit the road for the first time in nearly a month as it will take on Florida, Sept. 22, in Gainesville, Fla.
Player to Watch: Courtney Schell
Junior midfielder Courtney Schell has been an anchor defensively and in possession this season for the Tigers. Schell has been surgical in the attack, as well, as 38 percent of her career goals have ended up as the match winner. Earlier in 2016, Schell got on the end of a cross and placed a header into the upper 90 to record a golden goal in the 1-0 triumph over South Alabama.
Stat Breakdown
Goalie Sarah Le Beau has made 27 saves and has posted three shutouts to open the 2016 slate. Forward Kristen Dodson leads the team in both goals (three) and assists (three). Casie Ramsier and Courtney Schell each have a pair of goals, while Ellie Leek, Brooke Ramsier and Taylor Troutman have each found the back of the net once.
An Auburn Win Would...
A win by Auburn on Sunday evening would give the Tigers their first regular season victory over South Carolina since 2012 and send the home team to a 2-0-0 start in conference play for the first time since 2011.
On This Day...
On Sept. 18, 2011, goalkeeper Chandler Hillen saved a penalty kick in the final seconds to secure a 2-1 win at Denver, moving the Tigers to a 6-1-1 start to the season.
Scouting South Carolina
The Gamecocks are one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the nation and the only one in the SEC. South Carolina is currently tied for second in the league with 60 points (21 goals, 18 assists). Forward Savannah McCaskill currently leads the conference in scoring with eight goals to her tally thus far in 2016. Goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski touts a save percentage of .824.