Auburn, Ala. — After enduring a near two-hour weather delay, No. 16 Auburn soccer (2-0-1) battled to a tie against the reigning national champions, Florida State (1-0-2) 1-1 Thursday at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
"I thought our team did a great job growing into the game, getting better as time progressed," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We played an excellent game, certainly had our chances to win it. A tie is not always what you want, but at the end of the day, that's a really good result against the defending national champions."
The Seminoles pressured the Tigers early with looks on-goal, but the Auburn defense locked down to force the shots astray. Junior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska backed up the defensive effort with a pair of saves in the opening frame.
Florida State got on the board in the 29th minute, scoring a goal off a penalty kick from Heather Payne to take the one-point lead into the half.
Auburn answered back with a goal of its own in the 63rd minute as junior Anna Haddock took the Tigers free kick, placing a perfect strike that tailed to the six-yard box and found sophomore Sydnie Thibodaux for a powerful header into the back left of the net.
File this one under things we LOVE to see 🗃#WarEagle | @annahaddock_ | @SydnieThibodaux pic.twitter.com/fNSQrSXnhW
— Auburn Soccer (@AuburnSoccer) August 26, 2022
"Anna (Haddock) played it perfectly to me and I'm glad I was able to finish it," Thibodaux said. "Today is going to be a big piece of momentum going into the next game and the rest of the season. Everyone says that they can hang with the best, but tonight we proved that Auburn truly can."
The goal for Thibodaux was the second in as many games. The play also marks the second-straight game with an assist from Haddock.
Defense from the Auburn back line continued to hold Seminole shots at bay in the final 45 while Prohaska controlled the game from the net, collecting seven second half saves to finish the night with nine total, one shy of tying her career high.
"I think that our defense showed tonight that we can hang with any championship-caliber team," Prohaska said. "Our defense is more than the back four it's all 11 of us. We showed just how gritty we are and that we do focus on the details."
The Tigers' offense finished the night with six shots to the Seminoles' 17. Auburn spread the load with all six coming via different players.
Both Prohaska and Florida State's Roque went the distance in the net, conceding one goal apiece. Roque recorded two saves on Tiger chances.
Auburn continues its ACC swing with another road test at Wake Forest Sunday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is set for noon CT.