FULLERTON, Calif. – No. 17 Auburn (5-0-0) stayed perfect on the season with a 2-0 win at Cal State Fullerton (1-3-1) Friday night at Titan Stadium.
The Tigers improve to 5-0-0 for the fifth time in program history. Auburn has now outscored its opponents 18-2 this season, and the shutout was the team's third of the season and redshirt senior goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau's 24th of her career.
"Fullerton has a great team and that was a really tough game," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "To get that first goal eight minutes in really gave us a lot of confidence. We're really happy with our team grinding it out on the road."
Juniors Treva Aycock and Bri Folds accounted for the scoring in the match with bookend goals in the opening 10 minutes and final 10 minutes of the contest. Aycock's goal stood up as the game-winner – her second of the season – while Folds' score was her team-best fourth of the year.
"Both (Treva and Bri) are really dynamic attacking players," Hoppa said. "They're players we're going to rely on all year to create and score opportunities for us."
Auburn capitalized on its first scoring opportunity in the ninth minute as Aycock received a pass from Alyssa Malonson inside the box and sidestepped a Cal State Fullerton defender before beating beating the goalkeeper with the right foot. Malonson's assist was her third of the season, all of which have come in the last three games.
"It was great to get an early goal and start the game off that way," Aycock said. "It was an all-around team effort tonight and we can only just look forward and focus on the next game. We're young and have a lot of learning to do still, but we're excited about what we can do."
Fullerton had its best shot at the equalizer in the 25th minute, but Malonson came up with a deflection in front of the frame to maintain the advantage. The Spring, Texas, native led the back line and affected the game in all three phases of the field.
"Alyssa was terrific today and really a difference maker for us," Hoppa added. "She made some key tackles and tracked some players down from out of nowhere. She made a huge difference all game long."
Le Beau and the Tigers back line fought off 13 shots in the match, including eight in the second half, before Folds put the game away in the 82nd minute. Taylor Troutman played a long pass down the middle of the field from beyond the midline, and Jessie Gerow flicked it inside the box to Folds, who finished past the goalkeeper with the left foot to double the lead.
Eight of Auburn's 15 players who saw action in the match went the distance.
The Tigers remain in The Golden State and will face Long Beach State (3-2-0) Sunday at 7 p.m. CT. The contest will be broadcast on Big West TV.
No. 17 Auburn Claims Tough Road Win to Stay Perfect
