The Auburn Tigers play the South Carolina Gamecocks at home this Sunday. The Gamecocks are currently ranked No. 10 in the SEC, making this game extra competitive and highly sought after. Auburn is coming in hoping to make a comeback after some tough losses and redeem itself against South Carolina.
Auburn’s best quality seen this season is its defense. Top defenders like Taylor Chosm and Hayden Colson have been holding down the back line, making it difficult for opponents to infiltrate into Tiger territory. Ayana Yapo, a redshirt freshman goalkeeper, has consistently performed in the goal, displaying numerous shutouts and demonstrating the ability to make significant plays in high-pressure situations. Despite these constants, Auburn has been seen to dwindle near the end of matches, often resulting in its games finishing in ties rather than wins. Auburn will need to sustain its power and concentration to finish the game with the same intensity as it begins.
Offensively, Auburn’s Erin Fleury has been seen as a powerhouse in attacking and scoring this season. She becomes particularly dangerous when close to the goal and has been observed taking risks in enemy territory, often prevailing. The Tigers have been creating multiple opportunities on the attacking side so far; they just need to take advantage and see the game through to the end.
South Carolina enters this weekend on a high, having impressed as an SEC team thus far. They have truly become a dominant force this season, seeing success in both SEC and nonconference matches. They have a strong and organized defense that rarely lets opponents penetrate through. Their goalie, Christina Tsaousis, is reliable in the net and offers a great sense of stability in the back line. Their strong defense as a whole has been difficult for attackers to break down, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against Erin Fleury and other Auburn attackers.
The Gamecocks are led by sophomore forward Katie Shea Collins, who has already scored eight goals this season. Her strong ability to score in high-stress situations has made her a dominant player in the SEC, presenting problems for the team defending against her. Auburn’s tight defense will have to account for Collins and her teammates to attack fiercely and methodically. Seeing how they will hold down the fort will be a sight to see this weekend.
Sunday's game presents a crucial opportunity for Auburn to establish its mark in conference play. A victory will significantly boost the Tigers’ morale and propel them higher in the SEC Tournament rankings. Kickoff is set at 2:00 p.m. CDT at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
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Cate is a junior majoring in journalism sports production. She started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
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