The Auburn soccer team kicked off the 2013-14 athletics calendar in grand fashion on Saturday night with an exhibition win over a quality opponent.
Led by a number of underclassmen, Auburn defeated Memphis by a score of 4-1 at the Auburn Soccer Complex. The victory was the first official game for an athletic year that will be marked by new eras for several programs.
One of those teams in transition is this soccer squad, which lost six starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team and started eight freshmen and sophomores in Saturday's home win.
"I am really proud of the freshmen and the way they played tonight," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said afterwards. "As young as we are, we really needed this game and coming out of it, I feel good about having another week of practice. We had a good match against an outside opponent, and we know some things we need to work on."
Sophomore Haley Gerken led the way for the host Tigers, netting the team's first and third goals. Her opener, which was assisted by senior Maddie Barnes, was a great example of team play--she beat Memphis's offside trap with a cutting run and slotted home Barnes's over-the-top pass.
"We have been working so hard in preseason," Gerken said. "I'm really impressed with the team, I feel so comfortable out there with everyone. I was able to put two away tonight, and everybody followed."
Gerken's opener came after a long stretch of pressure from the visitors. Memphis matched Auburn's 12 shots during the match, but the Tigers in orange were more clinical with their chances in front of goal.
True freshman Casie Ramsier netted Auburn's second goal, which came midway through the first half. Teammate Kala Faulkner's hard shot was stopped by an impressive diving save from Memphis goalkeeper Christa Strickland, but the young Texas native was waiting on the doorstep for the rebound.
"To put on this jersey and score a goal is just amazing," Ramsier said of her first career goal. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates--they have helped me improve each and every day. The ball from Kala was a great shot, and I was glad I could be there to finish it up."
Returning starter Chelsea Gandy-Cromer capped off Auburn's scoring in the 59th minute. The forward broke away down the center of the field and struck the unassisted shot past Strickland to make it 4-0.
The speedy forward tandem of Honeye Heydari and Christabel Oduro connected 12 minutes later to break up the Auburn clean sheet, but it would be a mere consolation goal on the hosts' rotating trio of goalkeepers.
"I thought all three of (the goalkeepers) did a great job," Hoppa said. "Alyse (Scott) started the game fantastically; she did what we needed her to do. Kelly (Neeb) did a really good job of handling everything that was presented to her in that middle 30.
"And Alicen (Wright) had the toughest job of them all in that last 30 with all those subs and lineup changes. She did a great job of securing the win for us."
Auburn returns to action on Friday, Aug. 23 for a home match against another group of Tigers--the Clemson Tigers. The team will travel to face another ACC opponent, the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles, two days later.
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