AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn soccer will play its first road match of the 2023 season Thursday, Aug. 24 at Syracuse. Kickoff from SU Soccer Stadium is set for 2 p.m. CT on ACCNX.
"I expect Syracuse to be a tough challenge," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "It's an away match against a talented team that is constantly tested in a great conference. We're going to lean on our senior leadership to teach our younger players how to deal with adversity on the road."
Auburn heads to New York following a 1-0-1 showing during Opening Weekend. The Tigers played Samford to a scoreless draw before defeating Troy 5-0. In the matchup against Troy, Auburn found its first goals of the year from the veteran group of Anna Haddock, Maddy Bondon, Sydney Richards and Marissa Arias. Richards scored in the 51st and 56th minutes for the third brace of her collegiate career.
Overall, the Tigers outshot their Opening Weekend opponents 31-5, which includes a 14-1 shots-on-goal ratio. It is the fewest shots on-goal the Tigers have allowed in a two-game stretch since Sept. 5-9, 2021, when Auburn stymied Chattanooga 3-0 and Alabama A&M 5-0.
Syracuse is set to play at home for the first time after opening its season with a pair of matches on the road, falling 0-1 at Delaware and winning 3-0 at Siena College. Last year, led by head coach Nicky Adams, the Orange recorded an 8-7-3 head-to-head record. They scored 24 goals and posted a 1.33 goals against average (GAA). Auburn's assistant coach, Kelly Madsen, previously coached under Adams at Syracuse from 2019-22.
Both Orange & Blue squads previously met in 2019, when Auburn picked up a 2-0 victory over Syracuse at home. Program alums Hailey Whitaker and Bri Folds scored in the match. Richards is the only active Auburn player to have seen time in the contest.
Following the bout at Syracuse, Auburn will head to West Point, New York to play Army Sunday, Aug. 27 at noon CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Auburn ready for first road test at Syracuse
