AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn soccer team (10-3-1, 2-3-1 SEC) got back in the win column by defeating Georgia (4-7-3, 1-4-1 SEC), 1-0, Sunday afternoon at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
The win marked the team's eighth shutout of the season and its third in conference play. It also marked the 15th time in 20 seasons under head coach Karen Hoppa the Tigers have won double-digit contests.
"I'm really proud of our team," Hoppa said. "We faced a lot of adversity this week, and to be back home was great. To defend our home turf and grind out a 1-0 win in this league is huge for us. We need to continue to build on this momentum."
After battling to a scoreless tie through the first half and approximately 20 minutes into the second half, Treva Aycock notched the lone goal in the match, her third game-winner of the season, off a set piece and assist from Alyssa Malonson.
"It was a team effort," Aycock said. "It felt great to put that one away, and we just had to focus on finishing out the game strong."
Aycock broke the scoreless tie with her seventh goal of the season in the 65th minute of the contest. Malsonson lobbed the free kick over the top, and Aycock ran past the Georgia back line before beating the keeper with the right foot. Aycock has now scored in back-to-back contests and has a team-high four goals during conference play.
From there, the Auburn back line held strong to keep Georgia off the scoreboard. The shutout was the sixth of the season for goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau and the 27th of her career.
Freshman M.E. Craven made the first start of her career and played all 90 minutes on the back line, while fellow freshman Olivia Dedels made her second start and also played the entirety of the match in the midfield.
"M.E. and Olivia started and played in their first 90 against their home-state team," Hoppa said. "I couldn't have asked for anything more out of those two. They were tremendous and we couldn't have won without them."
Craven and the Tigers defended eight shots from Georgia and denied numerous through balls to keep the Bulldogs in check.
"We had to communicate a lot because their forwards were good runners and fought through the back," Craven said. "But we did good with our communicating and backed each other up."
Seventeen Tigers saw action in the match, including six who played all 90 minutes.
The Tigers are back in action next Sunday at Missouri (5-7-2, 2-3-1 SEC). The game begins at 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Auburn Defends Home Turf, Downs Georgia
