Nov. 9, 2017
Auburn vs. Hofstra
(7-6-5, 4-2-4 SEC) vs. (15-3-2, 9-0-0 CAA)
Match
| Friday, Nov. 10 | 5 p.m. | |
| Auburn vs. Hofstra | ||
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn soccer team (7-6-5) opens its fourth straight and 15th overall NCAA Tournament with a first-round match against Hofstra (15-3-2) Friday evening. Kickoff at the Auburn Soccer Complex is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.
Andy Burcham and Mac Matthews will have the call from the broadcast booth on SEC Network+. The fixture will also be available on radio at WEGL 91.1.
Tickets for Friday's match at the Auburn Soccer Complex are on sale through the Auburn Ticket Office. Fans can go online and purchase tickets at www.aubtix.com or call the main ticket office at 334-844-4040.
Prices are $8 for the general public, and $3 for seniors ages 65 and up. Children 12 and under will be allowed in for free. All Auburn students who show their Auburn Ignited card will also be given free admission, and free Chick-fil-A will be available to fans while supplies last.
Fans who have purchased tickets may pick up their order at the ticket office located at the Auburn Arena between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All tickets purchased in advance will be moved to Will Call, which opens at the Auburn Soccer Complex one hour prior to kickoff.
Starting XI
The NCAA Tournament appearance is Auburn's fourth straight and 15th overall under head coach Karen Hoppa. It also marks the sixth year overall and third straight season the Tigers have hosted a NCAA Tournament match.
Auburn has amassed 12 NCAA Tournament wins and is 8-5 in the Big Dance since 2011, including five straight wins in the first round.
The Tigers are 5-2 all-time when playing in the NCAA Tournament at the Auburn Soccer Complex, includ¬ing 3-0 in the last three tournament contests on The Plains.
Auburn has achieved program firsts in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments as the team advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2015 and made its first ever Elite Eight appearance a season ago.
The Auburn senior class became the sixth in program history to advance to the NCAA Tournament in each of its four seasons and the first since 2012. The group has accounted for 52 wins and has posted a 30-8-4 career record at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
The Tigers had three players earn SEC All-Conference honors, marking the fourth straight season with three or more awards. Senior forward Kristen Dodson and senior defender Caroline Bado were named First Team All-SEC while Alyssa Malonson made the All-Freshman Team.
Dodson became the 10th player in program history to be named to the first team on multiple occasions and the eighth to do it in back-to-back seasons. She continues to climb a number of career records including goals (29), assists (27), points (85), and game-winning goals (10).
The Auburn defense finished the regular season tied for second in the league with five shutouts during conference play - matching a program record. The Tigers also ranked fourth in goals against average (0.83) and tied for fourth in goals allowed (nine).
Hoppa has coached 15 winning seasons at Auburn with nine of them being 12-win seasons. A win Friday would guarantee her 16th winning season with the Tigers and 20th winning season in 25 years as a head coach.
Scouting Hofstra
Hofstra enters the NCAA Tournament with a 15-3-2 overall record and is riding a 12-match win streak, which is tied for the third longest streak in the country.
The Pride went 9-0-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association and was crowned both regular season and tournament champions.
Senior forward Kristin Desmond leads the team and conference in goals (nine) and points (21), while the Hofstra defense has allowed 13 goals in 20 matches this season.
Player(s) to Watch: Auburn Seniors
The Auburn senior class has made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced further each season, including the program's first trip to the Sweet 16 in 2015 and first Elite Eight appearance in 2016. The group has accounted for 52 wins in their four-year run, and would become the first class to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons with a win tomorrow night.