Auburn soccer announced its schedule for the upcoming 2023 season Thursday.
Led by the influence of head coach Karen Hoppa, the Tigers enter their 25th season under Hoppa's reign.
"I am excited to start my 25th season on the Plains with what may be the toughest schedule in my tenure here," Hoppa said. "We have two extremely difficult nonconference trips along with some great home nonconference opponents. The SEC schedule is always a grind, especially in the West division. This schedule is one that will give us the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and we look forward to the challenge."
Auburn's schedule includes two exhibitions before 18 regular season matches. Ten of those matches are against fellow SEC teams, and 10 of the 20 games are home contests which will be played at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
The Tigers' opponents for the 2023 season feature 11 NCAA Tournament attendees, nine teams that won double-digit matches and three conference champions from the 2022 season.
The Tigers open the season with an exhibition match against Mercer and another at South Alabama before opening the regular season at home on Aug. 17 against Samford, the reigning SoCon champion. Auburn follows the home opener with an in-state matchup against Troy on Aug. 20.
The SEC schedule kicks off on Sept. 15 with a trip to Mississippi State, and the conference home opener is set for Sept. 21 when Auburn hosts Missouri.
Auburn's October schedule includes six matches played in a crammed final month of regular season play, including a trip to Alabama.
Auburn's full schedule goes as followed: vs. Mercer (exhibition), at South Alabama (exhibition), vs. Samford, vs. Troy, at Syracuse, at Army, vs. Wake Forest, vs. American, at West Virginia, at Ohio State, at Mississippi State, vs. Missouri, at Ole Miss, vs. South Carolina, at Alabama, vs. Arkansas, vs. Texas A&M, at Florida, vs. LSU and at Georgia.
Auburn is coming off a season in which it went 6-6-6 and failed to qualify for both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
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Jacob Waters is a senior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in August, 2021.
Twitter: @JacobWaters_
