Auburn soccer has returned to the Plains to take on their rival No. 24 LSU Tigers for battle Sept. 25 in their SEC home opener. Now 8-1-0, the Tigers will face their first ranked team of the season with first kick set for 7 p.m.
"I think this is the best LSU team that our players have ever seen and I think they're going to be super dangerous attacking wise," said head coach Karen Hoppa. "They might be the best offense we've seen so far as well, so it's going to be a big battle."
The Auburn midfield was the key to success Sunday in Knoxville when the Tigers took a 3-1 win over the Vols.
"The midfield pretty much decides how the games movement is going to go, we have to work as a unit to get the team calmed down and get the ball moving," said midfielder Courtney Schell.
LSU will enter Friday's match on a three-game win streak. The two Tiger teams hold similar stats, with LSU at 119 total shots, 29 saves and 53 shots on target. Auburn sits at 126 total shots, 29 saves and 48 shots on target.
"I'm just excited for a good battle," said junior midfielder Brooke Ramsier. "I know they're a great team this year and it's gonna be a great friday night game, so I'm just pumped and ready to have our SEC home opener. It's the midfield's job to keep possession and we're just working on our dynamic and I think we've done well so far just to work hard with each other."
The Tigers are expecting an attacking midfield and two "equally dangerous" front two according to Hoppa.
"We can't take any plays off," Hoppa said. "We're really working on our defense's ability to keep that two front in front of us and try not to let them get behind us, and try to deny as much service into the box as possible."
Defense has performed well for Auburn all season, now with the midfield clicking and the two being on the same page just in time for a home opener, Auburn is ready to perform on both sides of the ball.
"The two opening weekends on the road in the SEC is tough so we're really happy to be at home and hoping for a big crowd on Friday night and we're excited to play our SEC home opener," Hoppa said.
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