AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - Auburn Women’s Soccer faced off against the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex. After a hard-fought match full of defensive stops, physical play, and late goals, the game ended in a 1–1 tie.
Both teams started out slow, struggling to get anything going offensively. The first 15 minutes were back-and-forth, with both sides fighting for possession but failing to create big chances. Auburn took five shots in the first half while South Carolina only managed two.
The Tigers finally broke through in the 39th minute thanks to Erin Fleury, who scored off a free kick just outside the box. The ball curved perfectly over the wall and into the net, giving Auburn a 1-0 lead and firing up the home crowd. It was the only goal Auburn would score all night, but it gave the Tigers momentum early.
After that, Auburn’s defense locked the game down. The Gamecocks tried to respond, but the Tigers’ back line stayed strong, clearing out crosses and closing down space quickly. South Carolina is known for their sharp passing and creativity on offense, but Auburn made it tough for them to find a rhythm. The Tigers took that 1–0 lead into halftime.
The second half looked a lot like the first—physical, fast, and scrappy. Both teams kept pressing but couldn’t connect in the final third. Fouls piled up as the game got more intense, and the referee handed out several yellow cards to keep control.
For most of the half, it looked like Auburn might hold on for a huge upset win. The defense kept South Carolina in check and the crowd stayed loud, hoping the Tigers could close it out. But with just over two minutes left, things took a tough turn.
A handball inside the box gave South Carolina a penalty kick, and the Gamecocks’ Cuyler Zuluaf stepped up to take it. She placed her shot perfectly into the top left corner, tying the game at 1–1 with 2:37 left on the clock. The late goal took the energy out of the stadium, and neither team could find another goal before time ran out.
Despite the draw, Auburn head coach James Armstrong said he was proud of how his team competed.
“Very proud of our team,” Armstrong said. “We had our chances there to win in the end but couldn’t kill it off. That’s just where we’re at right now. We need to make plays towards the end of the game.”
The Tigers will look to bounce back when they return home on Thursday, Oct. 16 to play the Oklahoma Sooners at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
