AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn soccer (2-0-1) will continue its road swing with a matchup at Wake Forest (3-0)-0 Sunday, Aug. 28 at noon CT.
The game will be streamed via ACCNX with Ty Collins on the call.
"This is a very challenging two-game stretch for us," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "It's going to show us what we're made of. We're going to lean on what we learned about ourselves in the Florida State game to come out ready to play against Wake Forest."STARTING XIThe Tigers head to Winston-Salem tabbed the No. 16 team in the country by the United Soccer Coaches Poll. In the same poll, Wake Forest is also receiving votes.
With 11 goals already in the net this season, Auburn's 3.75 scoring offense ranks tied for 10th in the nation. The Tigers' 11 goals have been scored by eight different players.
The Tigers' +10 goal differential to start the year is the best mark through the first three games since the 2018 season.
In its 1-1 draw at No. 2 Florida State, Auburn snapped a five-game losing streak to the Seminoles when playing in Tallahassee.
Junior midfielder Anna Haddock was recently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. The Hermann Award is given to the most outstanding performer in the sport each year. Haddock has scored a pair of goals and assisted two others through three games to open the season.
Additionally, Haddock has started all 41 games of her career, going a perfect 41-for-41.
The Tigers and the Demon Deacons last met on The Plains in 2011. The Demon Deacons captured the 4-1 victory. Auburn's lone goal came via Chelsea Gandy-Cromer on an assist from Tatiana Coleman.
In a dazzling effort against the Seminoles, junior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska recorded nine saves on FSU shots. Prohaska now stands at 144 career saves, the seventh best total in program history.
Even with an upperclassman-heavy roster, the Auburn freshman have managed to make in impact early in the year. Four of the six freshmen have already logged game minutes with Erin Houston and Olivia Fout picking up a pair of assists and Hayden Colson scoring her first career goal in the Tigers' win over the Golden Eagles a week ago.
Sophomore midfielder Sydnie Thibodaux has already netted two goals in just 62 minutes of play this season. She leads the team, averaging one goal every 31 minutes.
Sunday marks the fourth meeting in history between the Tigers and Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons hold a 2-1 overall advantage, but the Tigers lead 1-0 when playing in Winston-Salem.PLAYER TO WATCH: SYDNIE THIBODAUXThibodaux has been an instant contributor for the Tigers' offense this season. The Montgomery, Texas product netted her first goal, against Southern Miss, 11 minutes after checking into the game and her second goal, against Florida State, less than two minutes after coming off the bench.
SCOUTING WAKE FORESTTony Da Luz will lead Wake Forest in his 26th year as head coach. Da Luz boasts a 287-186-50 record while at the helm of the program.
The Demon Deacons played a 16-6 season last year, posting a 2-5-0 record against ranked competition.
In its opening matches of the season, Wake Forest bested Milwaukee 2-0, Rhode Island 4-1 and Georgia 1-0.UP NEXTAuburn returns home for a matchup against West Virginia Thursday, Sept. 1. Kickoff at the Auburn Soccer Complex is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.