The No. 14 Auburn Tigers look to continue to climb the ranks after a 4-0 win against LSU this past Friday. This week the Tigers will hit the road again to face SEC rival Alabama and Tennessee.
Auburn will face Alabama back at home, before continuing onto Knoxville for their matchup against Tennessee. The Tigers are currently coming off of a dominant performance against LSU, where offense reigned supreme.
“Wow, what a challenging week with two quality opponents on our schedule,” Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. “We start with a classic rivalry match where records and rankings mean nothing. It’s always a tough, physical match with a very small margin for error. Then, we have to head to Tennessee, and they are always going to put up a fight no matter where or when you play them. This week is going to certainly test us, and I look forward to seeing how our team responds.”
The Tigers are taking control of this season offensively, being led by senior midfielder Anna Haddock. Haddock currently sits at 41 assists, putting her one assist away from breaking a school record. Haddock’s ability to assist and put the ball away herself is leading the Tiger’s attack this season.
Another key to Auburn’s offensive success is a constant rotation of players. 11 different players have come off the bench in SEC matches. Auburn has scored 41 goals this season, 16 of these goals being scored by players that started on the bench.
In their matchup at home, the Tigers will be seeking to lift the Iron Bowl soccer trophy for the first time since 2019. More often than not, this rivalry makes for a tight matchup. 14 out of the last 15 meetings have been decided by one goal. Despite Alabama’s rocky start in conference play, the Tiger’s should look out for a scrappy rivalry game.
Later in the week, Auburn will travel to Knoxville, TN to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.
The last time these two teams faced off was in the 2023 SEC tournament, where Auburn knocked down the Volunteers, 2-1. However, the Vols lead this series 13-11.
The Vols are currently coming off of a 1-0 victory against Missouri, strengthening their unbeaten streak to 10. Tennessee is led by redshirt senior Jaida Thomas, who scored her 40th career goal against Missouri. She is now fourth-all time in Tennessee history in game-winning goals.
Throughout the season, the Vols have been steady on both sides of the field. By performing an onslaught defense, Tennessee has been able to hold its opponents to minimal shots and goals all season. Goalkeeper Ally Zazzara has seen a number of career highs this season, and is not expected to allow much past her in this upcoming match.
Offensively, the entire rotation helps out on the field. This makes for a dynamic offense that is hard to beat. The reason for the Vols' domination at the goal stems from their ability to see and connect with one another. Almost every active player has an assist this season.
The Vols and Tigers' matchup should end up being an intense contest in Knoxville, TN. This will not be an easy win for the Tigers, seeing as Tennessee is consistent on both sides of the field and in front of the goal. The Tigers will have to work hard to break their ongoing unbeaten streak.
Auburn will kick off its weekend slate at the Auburn soccer complex against arch-rival Alabama on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6p.m. CST airing on the SEC Network. The Tigers will then travel North to Knoxville, TN to take on the Volunteers at the Regal Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1p.m. CST airing on ESPNU.
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Madelyn Marsh is a freshman from Castroville, Texas, who is majoring in journalism. She joined The Plainsman in fall 2023.
