AUBURN, Ala. — For the final time this season, Auburn soccer is back home on The Plains as the Tigers are set to host LSU Sunday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. CT. Outgoing players Marissa Arias, Maddie Lo, Maddie Prohaska, Sydney Richards and Maddie Simpson will be honored on Senior Night for their respective contributions to the program.
The SEC Network will broadcast the match. Ian Carry and Alex Perlman have the call.
"LSU is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team, if you will," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "They've got some great results and then they've got some head-scratchers. We're going to prepare for the absolute best version of them because they are loaded with talent. Both teams are going to want to take this match really badly, so I expect 90 minutes of 110% effort from each side."
It's a do-or-die match for the Tigers as a trip to the 2023 SEC Soccer Tournament is on the line. After a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Florida on Thursday, Auburn sits 11th in the league standings, one spot out of the cut line. A victory over LSU boosts the Tigers from eight to 11 points and back into the tournament picture. The race to Pensacola is shaping up to be a photo finish as seven teams currently fall in the eight to 10 points range.
Historically, Auburn has had no issue handling LSU as the Orange & Blue are favored 20-8-5 in the all-time series and 11-1-2 when playing at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Since 2011, Auburn has picked up 10 victories and forced four ties while holding LSU winless. The Tigers have not conceded a goal to LSU since 2016 as the defense has solidified shutouts in each of the previous seven matches.
In the conference standings, LSU sits seventh overall with 10 points to its credit on a 3-4-1 record. Last week, the Bayou Bengals fell 4-1 at No. 24 Alabama and tied No. 9 Arkansas 1-1 in Baton Rouge.
From a distance, LSU has faced its fair share of struggles defensively as it ranks in the bottom half of the conference for goals allowed (14), shutouts (1) and GAA (1.75) in league action. A player of note is starting goalkeeper Mollee Swift, who shares the SEC lead in saves with Auburn's Prohaska.
Ava Galligan paces the Purple & Gold with 11 points on three goals and five assists. Taylor Dobles has put five in the back of the net, more than any of her Tiger teammates.
After squaring off with LSU, Auburn closes out the regular season at Georgia Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. CT. This year's SEC Tournament, hosted by the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Florida, is set for Oct. 29 – Nov. 5.
