Oct. 27, 2016
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AUBURN, Ala. -- The 13th-ranked Auburn soccer team scripted a perfected night for its seniors in a 3-1 victory over Tennessee on Thursday at the Auburn Soccer Complex. The Tigers (13-5-0, 9-2-0 SEC) matched the program record for conference wins in a season after picking up their ninth league win in dominating fashion.
"We always want to send the seniors off in the right way," said head coach Karen Hoppa, who coached her 500th career match. "It's just an incredible senior class and to be able to get them all into the game and get a result from them on senior night, they deserve it. I was proud of our team for making sure to send this group out the right way."
Auburn held a commanding lead in shots over Tennessee (10-8-1, 5-5-1) throughout the 90 minutes, 21-3.
The Volunteers, however, opened the scoring as they converted on a corner to take an early 1-0 lead 15 minutes into the match.
Nine minutes later, Kristen Dodson knotted the match up at 1-1 with her 11th goal of the season. Dodson beat two defenders and placed a shot up and over the goalie as the Aurora, Ill. native was falling down to level the contest.
The match remained 1-1 at the intermission, despite the Tigers holding a 10-2 advantage in shots.
"I thought we really grew into the first half," stated Hoppa. "We gave up a goal on a corner and it was a great goal by their player, but I felt the first half we got better as the half went on and to get Kristen's [Dodson] goal to go into halftime 1-1 was huge. That gave us confidence heading into the second half. We just stayed with the gameplan and I was proud of our team to not get frustrated, and they stayed with it."
Bri Folds nearly gave the hosts the lead in the 50th minute when she had two shots on goal saved by the outstretched arms of the opposing goalkeeper.
Auburn then went ahead in the 81st minute when Brooke Ramsier played a through ball that found her sister Casie Ramsier, and she did the rest. The senior held off a defender and slotted home her seventh goal of the season and what eventually was credited as her 11th-career game-winner, matching the program record set by Katy Frierson (2008-11) and Sarah Steinmann (2001-04).
"I just got the ball from Brooke [Ramsier], turned and saw a lot of space in front of me," said Casie Ramsier. "Kristen [Dodson] made a great run that opened up the middle, I saw my chance and took it."
Ramsier's winner also marked her 32nd career goal, moving the Dallas, Texas native into third place on the program's all-time leaderboard.
The Tigers weren't done scoring yet as Folds saved her best shot of the night for last.
In the 84th minute, Folds took a pass from Dani Solaru and tucked a highlight-reel shot into the upper-90 to add insurance to Auburn's lead.
The Tigers held on in the final moments to notch their seventh home win of the season.
Before the match, the senior class of Kiana Clarke, Haley Gerken, Brooke Ramsier, Casie Ramsier, Alyse Scott and Samantha Solaru were honored for leaving their mark on the program.
With the win, Auburn officially locked up the No. 2 seed in next week's SEC Tournament. The Tigers will face either No. 7 seed Tennessee or No. 10 seed Ole Miss on Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Orange Beach, Ala. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. and all conference tournament matches will be televised on the SEC Network.