The Auburn soccer team capped off its 2017 regular season home schedule with a 0-0 draw against LSU (8-6-3, 1-5-3 SEC) Sunday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Auburn (7-4-5, 4-1-4 SEC) controlled possession for much of the match as the homestanding Tigers outshot LSU, 28-9, marking the team’s second highest shot total of the season.
“We’re really pleased with the way we played,” head coach Karen Hoppa said. “The girls played great soccer and peppered the goal. It’s a funny game. Sometimes the better team doesn’t win. We couldn’t get one to fall today, but I’m pleased with the effort.”
Prior to kickoff, the six seniors on the Tigers’ roster – Hannah Alspach, Caroline Bado, Kristen Dodson, Katie Grunder, Ellie Leek and Courtney Schell – were honored during the Senior Day ceremony.
“These four years, there are no words to describe them,” Schell said. “It’s been an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t ask for anything different.”
Leek and Schell led the attack with seven and five shots apiece, respectively, while three other Tigers accounted for three shots each. Freshman Jaelyn Gadson was inches from breaking the scoreless tie as she tried to go upper 90 in the 83rd minute, but her shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
In goal, Sarah Le Beau turned in her seventh shutout of the season and 20th of her career. It was also the Tigers’ fifth shutout during conference play in 2017.
The double-overtime match was Auburn’s sixth of the season and second straight. Just three days after going to extra time against Ole Miss, eight Tigers played the full 110 minutes in the match.
“We need to build on tonight’s performance,” Hoppa said. “We played great and with tremendous effort, and we’re going to try to get better from here.”
With one match remaining in the regular season, Auburn is in a three-way tie for fourth place in the SEC. The Tigers control their own destiny and will earn a first-round bye in next week’s conference tournament with a result or Arkansas loss next week.
The Tigers cap off the regular season with a match at Vanderbilt Thursday at 8 p.m. CT. The SEC Tournament then begins Sunday, Oct. 29 in Orange Beach, Ala.
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