After a loss to LSU (9-8-3) in the first round of the SEC Tournament, the Tigers look to the NCAA Tournament. Auburn (12-3-4) prepares to host FIU (13-4-2) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. CST.
Neither team has won the NCAA Tournament and both head into Friday’s game with plenty to prove. Auburn has made remarkable strides throughout this season, including doubling their goals scored from last season.
Key offensive players for the Tigers, Olivia Woodson and Anna Haddock, have set the bar high for the future of Auburn soccer. Woodson is Auburn’s top scorer this season with 10 goals — the most goals scored by an individual player since 2016.
Haddock has 12 assists on the season, leading the SEC. She broke Auburn’s career-assist record after the LSU game in the first round of the SEC Tournament, recording her 43rd assist. Haddock has the chance to build on her record against FIU.
Graduate student Maddie Prohaska has continued to make significant progress in her career, now in her fifth year as the starting goalkeeper for the Tigers. She has recorded 27 saves and 12 shutouts this season
Florida International University women's soccer has its own achievements, including being crowned Conference USA Champions for the 2024 season. FIU claimed both the tournament title and the regular-season championship.
FIU defeated No. 2 seeded Liberty University to win the Conference USA on Sunday, Nov. 10. Coming off of a monumental conference championship win, FIU hopes to ride that momentum into the NCAA Tournament.
FIU’s offense is a force to be reckoned with and will pose a challenge for the Tigers' defense. Lead scorer, senior Noemi Paquin, has recorded 15 goals and 47 shots on goal this season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Valery Restrepo accounts for 37 of FIU’s 38 saves. Restrepo has won several acknowledgements including multiple CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week awards.
Auburn and FIU have previously during the NCAA Tournament, the most notable face-off being the 2019 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament, when Auburn defeated FIU 3-1 in the first round.
“From a soccer standpoint, nothing exists after Friday,” said Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa.
The NCAA Tournament marks the conclusion of a team's season, and with that in mind, both teams' futures will be on the line Friday night. The winner will advance to the second round, scheduled for Nov. 22-24.
Sixth seeded Auburn (12-3-4) will play FIU (13-4-2) at the Auburn Soccer Complex for the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. CST on ESPN+. The entirety of the tournament can be streamed via ESPN+.
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Caroline is a sophomore majoring in journalism. She started with The Plainsman in the fall 2024.
