AUBURN, Ala. — No. 13 Auburn looks to make it five straight as it hosts App State on Sunday, Sept. 1, for a 1 p.m. CT showdown at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
The Tigers (-0-0) enter the match fresh of their biggest road win in program history, a 6-0 drubbing at South Alabama, while the Mountaineers (2-0-2) roll into town after picking up a 2-0 win at home against Longwood.
“App State is really an unknown team for us; we’ve never played them before,” head coach Karen Hoppa said. “I think they’re a really good squad. Their coaching staff has really grown that team, especially defensively. They’ll be a big test for us on Sunday.”
Led by third-year head coach Aimee Haywood, App State has yet to take a loss this season. The Mountaineers’ defense has held strong through four matches, as it has surrendered just one goal.
Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Wommack has been nearly impenetrable through her first 360 minutes between the sticks as she has saved 18 of 19 dangerous chances faced, good for an impressive 0.947 save percentage.
Offensively, five different players combined for eight Mountaineers goals. Junior Shannon Studer and freshman Ellie Garrison lead the way with two apiece.
This season, App State has picked up victories against Wofford (5-0) and Longwood (2-0). The Mountaineers tied at NC State (0-0) and versus Charlotte (1-1).
Auburn laces up for Sunday’s matchup having outscored its first four opponents of the season 19-0. A total of 12 different Tigers have already found the back of the net in 2024, two shy of the previous season’s entire total.
Senior Anna Haddock and sophomore Olivia Woodson lead the pack with three goals each. Haddock has netted the game-winner in each of her team’s last three matches.
The Auburn defense has stymied all opposing attacks thus far this season as the Tigers are the lone SEC squad remaining who has yet to give up a goal against. A shutout on Sunday would see the backline post its fifth in a row, one shy of the program record of six set in 2003 and matched in 2015.
Brit Bown and Lauren Stannard will have Sunday’s call on the SEC Network+. Radio coverage of the match may be found at WEGL 91.1.
As always, matches at the Auburn Soccer Complex are free and open to the public. Fans in attendance Sunday will receive an Auburn soccer umbrella hat while supplies last.