AUBURN, Ala. – No. 13 Auburn (8-2-0, 2-1-0 SEC) faces another tough road test with a trip to No. 17 South Carolina (8-2-0, 3-0-0 SEC) Friday at 6 p.m. CT in Columbia, S.C.
"We have to make the most of our opportunities," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We're on the road against one of the best defensive teams in the country. When we get a chance, we have to take that chance."
The game will be available for streaming on SEC Network+.
STARTING XI
Auburn split a pair of matches at No. 17 Tennessee and against Texas A&M last week.
The Tigers went on a program-record 11-game winning streak from the end of last spring to the start of this season and are 14-3-1 in 18 games since the start of last spring.
The team is outscoring opponents 26-8 this season and 42-11 in the last 18 games.
Auburn has allowed multiple goals on just two occasions in the last 18 contests and is turning in a 0.59 goals against average during the span.
On the offensive side, the team has scored multiple goals in 11 of the last 13 games.
Sophomore midfielder Anna Haddock ranks top five in the SEC and top 20 in the NCAA in goals (eight) and points (19) and is second in the country with four game-winning goals.
Haddock's eight goals in the first 10 games of the season are the most by an Auburn player since Tammy Waine scored 14 goals in the span to start the 2000 season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska is tied for the league lead with four shutouts, all of which have come in the last six contests.
The Tigers are third in the SEC with a 0.79 goals against average.
Auburn checked in at No. 13 in this week's coaches' poll, marking the sixth straight week the team has appeared in the top 15.
Five of Auburn's first six SEC contests and seven of 10 total conference games are against teams either ranked or receiving votes.
The Tigers are looking for the team's first win in Columbia since 2005.
PLAYER TO WATCH: M.E. CRAVEN
Senior captain M.E. Craven put a free kick from nearly 70 yards out into the back of the net in the Tigers' 3-0 win against Texas A&M. The goal was Craven's second of the season and her career, both of which have been game winners.
The Alpharetta, Ga., native has bolstered the defensive unit that ranks third in the league in goals against average (0.79) and ranks second on the team in minutes (871).
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina enters Friday's contest with an 8-2-0 overall record and is off to a 3-0-0 start in SEC play.
Their two losses came both came by one goal in back-to-back games against ACC opponents, losing 2-1 at No. 18 Clemson and 1-0 against No. 19 Virginia Tech.
South Carolina has had nine different goal scorers this season and is led in goal scoring by sophomore forward Corrina Zullo and junior forward Eveleen Hahn, who have scored four goals apiece.
Junior goalkeeper Heather Hinz has started all 10 games and has only allowed seven goals, good for a 0.72 goals against average.
UP NEXT
The Tigers remain on the road to take on Mississippi State (2-4-3, 0-2-1 SEC) Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. CT in Starkville, Miss.