AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn soccer continued the offensive attack it exhibited at the end of the fall as the Tigers defeated Kennesaw State, 5-0, in the team's spring season opener Friday night.
The team's five goals were the most in a contest since defeating Alabama State 7-0 on Sept. 16, 2018. All five goals were scored by a different player, including four who found the back of the net for the first time in their Auburn careers.
"We are really proud of the girls' effort tonight," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "It has been a long time since our last game, and we thought we picked up where we left off in November."
The Tigers (5-4-2) have now accounted for 10 goals in the last three games dating back to the SEC Tournament.
"Obviously, it was also great to see four freshmen get their first career collegiate goals tonight," Hoppa added."
Those four freshmen who broke into the scoring for the first time as a Tigers were Olivia Candelino, Marissa Arias, Maddie Simpson and Hannah Waesch.
Fellow freshman Anna Haddock assisted on four of the team's five goals, becoming the first Auburn player to record four assists in a match since Tammy Waine in 1999.
"It was really awesome to finally see the offensive production we've been waiting for, especially with four girls scoring their first goals and getting to share that with each other," Haddock said. "The good combination play is what we wanted to build off from the fall and will continue to do this spring."
Auburn wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard as Kori Locksley got behind the Kennesaw State defense and headed a deflected ball into the net. It marked Locksley's second goals of the season and fourth of her career.
The Tigers added to the lead in a hurry as Candelino struck a left-footed shot from the top of the box over the mitt of the Owls goalkeeper in the 30th minute. Arias got in on the action five minutes later. Sarah Houchin played a free kick from near midfield to the feet of Mallory Mooney, who beat her defender around the edge and played it in the Arias making a near post run.
With the clock winding down in the first half, Haddock played a corner kick into the box, and Simpson rose above everyone else to get her head on it and send it into the back of the net.
Auburn capped off the scoring in the contest when Waesch hit a beautiful right-footed strike from 25 yards out into the upper 90.
With the offense clicking on all cylinders, the Tigers back line and goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska, who led the SEC in save percentage during the fall, pitched the shutout in the impressive win.
Auburn continues its spring slate by hosting LSU Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m.