COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Auburn Tigers end nonconference play and their series of away games with a loss to Ohio State 2-0.
The Buckeyes attack quickly having both goals scored within the first 23 minutes of the game, one in the 16th minute and the other only seven minutes later in the 23rd.
Before the scores, Ohio State already had one shot on goal within the first minute of the game, saved by goalie Maddie Prohaska.
Prohaska shutout the Buckeyes' offense for the remaining 67 minutes, having three saves total, but the Auburn offense could not find the net.
Ohio State about tripled Auburn's shot attempts in the first half, 7-2, but the Tigers bounced back in the second half having six- this is the least amount of shots Auburn has taken this season.
"Really disappointed by our first half more so than the result," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We came out really flat and really slow, and Ohio State is too good of a team to do that. We had great fight. We had some young kids. like Jess (Osborne), step up.”
Jessica Osborne made her collegiate debut as a center-back in the 34th minute and started for the second half and totaled 47 minutes of playtime.
Moreover, senior Sydney Richards and Maddie Simpson, junior Carly Thatcher and freshman Olivia Woodson place five shots on goals for the Tigers; Simpson was the only player off the bench with shot attempts.
“I loved our second half,” Hoppa said. “That kind of grit and fight is what we're going to need as we head into SEC play."
Auburn next plays on the road in Starkville to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs for their first SEC matchup. They play Friday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. CT on SECN+.
