KENNESAW, Ga. — The Auburn Tigers (3-0-1) welcomed back multiple players from injury Thursday night as they scored four goals against the Kennesaw State Owls (2-3-0) to pick up a 4-0 win away from home.
In their first true road test of the 2026 campaign, the Tigers got off to a flying start behind sophomore Gracie Brown’s first goal of the year. The opportunity came from an in-swinging corner played into the box by Mississippi State transfer Kennedy Husbands, who impressed for all 74 minutes she played.
Husbands, who spent her freshman season under Auburn head coach James Armstrong, now claims the most minutes played by any Auburn attacker this season. Her assist was her first goal involvement in the Orange and Blue, but her impact on the right wing continued to create scoring chances for the Tigers.
Auburn took a 1-0 lead into the break, feeling as though they deserved more for their efforts. Armstrong admitted post-game the first half could have been better, and that a few halftime changes were made.
The second-year head coach pushed the right buttons, as the second half featured an offensive onslaught. Just five minutes into the second frame of action, a long ball held up by striker Dylan Driver found its way to Ava Caldwell, who calmly poked past the Kennesaw State goalkeeper to get the Tigers up and running out of the break.
That wouldn’t be the last of Caldwell. The redshirt sophomore finished her brace, slotting a penalty in the dying moments of the match to seal the win for Auburn. Caldwell’s two goals tripled her career total after finding the scoresheet just once her freshman year.
Freshman Emma Musiek also found the back of the net, scoring a two-touch finish on a cross played into the box by Hannah Bell. Musiek now leads all Auburn freshmen with three goal involvements this season.
The scoreless night for the Owls extended Auburn’s clean-sheet streak to four games. The Tigers are now the only SEC team yet to concede a goal, making them one of 10 teams nationally that have kept opponents off the scoreboard this season.
Defensive prowess continues to be a calling card for Armstrong’s team, as new center back pairing Eva Pattison and Holly Engelking made another strong showing. The duo stifled a Kennesaw State attack that presented a significant challenge. Both new to the starting 11, Engelking and Pattison have now solidified themselves as the anchors of the Auburn back line.
Auburn also welcomed back three players sidelined by injuries. Maryland transfer Tahirah Turnage-Morales returned to action after coming off five minutes into the season opener, while second-year starter Grace Ivey saw action after missing the previous match and a half.
The third player to return from injury, and perhaps the biggest story of the night, was Layla Sirdah. Sirdah, who burst onto the scene as a freshman at Indiana, saw her 2025 season cut short due to a serious injury. After almost a year away, the junior made her way back to the pitch, playing 27 minutes and recording two shots.
Next up for the Tigers is a return to the Auburn Soccer Complex, where they will host the Georgia State Panthers on senior night. The match is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CT with live game coverage on WEGL 91.1 FM and ESPN+.
