Craven notches game-winner, Tigers capture first SEC victory

Craven notches game-winner, Tigers capture first SEC victoryCraven notches game-winner, Tigers capture first SEC victory
Grayson Belanger/AU Athletics
Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Defeating Kentucky 3-1 on the road, Auburn soccer captured its first win in conference play Thursday at Bell Stadium.
 
Both squads would take a 1-1 draw into the break, but the Tigers (5-3-5, 1-3-1) outmatched the Wildcats (7-6, 0-5) on second-half chances to net a pair in the final 45 minutes. Graduate defender M.E. Craven provided the game-winner off a clutch header following a free kick in the 66th minute.
 
"This was a huge result on the road for our team tonight," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "I'm so proud of how they've continued to develop despite not getting the results. It's great to see us put all the pieces together and earn a massive three points in the league standings."
 
Auburn's front line proved deadly as the Orange & Blue offense rattled off 14 total shots, a season high in conference play, from nine different players. Eight of the Tigers' shots were placed on target. Junior midfielder Anna Haddock led the team, going three-for-three also picking up a goal and an assist.
 
Junior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska and the Tiger defenders also flexed a major muscle against the potent Kentucky attack, surrendering a single goal to keep its streak alive of not allowing more than one opposing shot into the back the net in any game this season.
 
Prohaska picked up a trio of saves on four shots faced.
 
Kickstarting the scoring on the night was none other than Kentucky product Haddock herself. In the 17th minute, junior Olivia Candelino and graduate student Grace Sklopan were able to find space in the midfield, making a pair of passes that found Haddock 30 yards out from the left post for a rocket that deflected off a Wildcat defender and nested inside the left upper 90.

"It felt really great to be back in my home state in front of friends and family and get the win," Haddock said. "We played some really good soccer tonight, giving us some vital momentum that we need moving forward. I can't wait for everyone to keep building and fighting for each other."
 
With the goal, Haddock is now tied at three for the team lead with junior Maddie Simpson.
 
Kentucky would even the score in the 26th minute, converting on a corner kick via a shot from Maggy Henschler.
 
Both programs would trade blows coming out of the half, but it was ultimately the Tigers who would jump ahead and never look back. In the 66th minute, Craven received service from a Haddock free kick near midfield, catching the bounce and punching it into the back of the net off a header.

"I was so excited when I saw the opportunity for the goal because I have really been working on my attacking headers," Craven said. "It was nice to finally put one away. Shoutout to Anna (Haddock) because her ball was perfectly placed.  

"This was a game we really needed, and it's a huge confidence boost. We're going to look to keep the streak going on Sunday."
 
The game-winner is the second for Craven this year and her fourth over the last two seasons. On the play, Haddock also collected her sixth assist of the season.
 
Nine minutes later, another Auburn graduate student would help double the Tiger lead. Finding space up front, Sabrina McNeill would rip a cross just outside the left corner of the goal box for a ricochet off Henschler's knee into the center of the net for an own goal.

Prohaska would slam the door shut on one final Wildcat opportunity in the 86th minute, making a layout save to her left on a shot from Hannah Richardson, bringing her yearly save total to 43.
 
Up next, Auburn returns home to host Mississippi State Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. CT. The match will be this season's mental health awareness game.