AUBURN, Ala. — No. 14 Auburn soccer (11-1-2, 3-1-2) picked up another point in league play with a 1-1 draw against Alabama (7-3-5, 0-1-5) Thursday night in the Iron Bowl of Soccer at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
“I thought we played a bit too tight, especially in the first half,” Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. “We were much, much better in the second half for the most part. We created enough chances to win, we just couldn’t finish them off.”
Alabama struck first with a score from Kate Henderson shortly out of the halftime break, but senior Carly Thatcher netted the game-tying goal via a penalty kick in the 59th minute. Stepping up to the spot, Thatcher remained cool, calm and collected in front of 1,898 fans, the fourth-largest crowd in program history, and converted for her third goal of the season on a beautifully taken penalty that was placed in the low left corner.
“There was, for sure, a lot of pressure,” Thatcher said. “I was nervous a little bit, but I just stared the keeper in her eyes and knew I was going to get it done. We practice them all the time, so I was ready. I had the mindset that I had done it before and knew I could do it again if I kept my composure.”
Thatcher’s penalty goal was the first from a Tiger player since Brooke Berdan scored from the spot against Southern Miss in the second match of the 2022 season.
Statically, Auburn outshot its in-state rivals 15-8 and created five attacking corner kicks while surrendering just one to the Tide. Senior Maddie Prohaska made one crucial save to bring her career total to 278.
Next, the Tigers head to Tennessee for another tough contest on the road. Kickoff from Regal Soccer Stadium is slated for 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU on Sunday, Oct. 13.