Tigers set for tough road test at No. 9 Clemson

Tigers set for tough road test at No. 9 ClemsonTigers set for tough road test at No. 9 Clemson
Shanna Lockwood/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn (5-4-3) hits the road for the first time this spring as the Tigers are set to take on No. 9 Clemson (7-4-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Riggs Field.
 
STARTING XI
 
Auburn has turned in back-to-back shutouts for the second time this season to start the spring - defeating Kennesaw State, 5-0, and playing to a 0-0 draw vs. LSU last Friday.
 
The Tigers haven't allowed a goal in a span of 268:14 dating back to its matchup against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament.
 
Saturday's contest marks Auburn's fifth matchup against a ranked opponent this season, including its fourth against a top 10 team.
 
All of the team's contests against ranked opponents have come away from the Auburn Soccer Complex.
 
Auburn has started seven freshmen in each of the first two contests of the spring.
 
Fourteen of the team's 17 points through two matches this spring have come from true or redshirt freshmen.
 
Four players in Marissa Arias, Olivia Candelino, Maddie Simpson and Hannah Waesch netted the first goals of their Auburn careers in the Tigers 5-0 win against Kennesaw State.
 
Freshman Anna Haddock matched the program record with four assists against the Owls.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska continues to lead the SEC in save percentage (.828). She is also tied for the league lead in shutouts (four) and ranks second in goals against average (0.96).
 
Auburn is 1-7-1 all-time against Clemson and is looking for the program's first road win in the series against the Tigers.
 
SCOUTING CLEMSON

Clemson enters the weekend with a 7-4-0 overall record, including a 4-0-0 mark at home, and is ranked No. 9 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.

The Tigers' attack is led by midfielder Megan Bornkamp and Caroline Conti, who was recently named the United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week after totaling seven points in two contests.

Bornkamp and Conti have combined for 22 points on 10 goals and two assists.

Defensively, Clemson has allowed nine goals in 11 matches, good for an 0.82 goals against average.