GAINESVILLE, Fla. — No. 25 Auburn Soccer traveled south this week to take on the Florida Gators in Gainesville. The Tigers entered Thursday’s match just one point out of fourth place in the SEC standings, the last place that receives a bye in the SEC Tournament. Auburn took home that point with a 1-1 draw in a tense, close battle.
As with many of the Tigers’ matches this season, the scoring came early. Senior defender Jordyn Crosby put Auburn on the board first in the 21st minute with her first goal of the season, following an attacking sequence by the Tigers.
Kelly Gordon started the attack with a cross into the box for Gracie Brown. Brown played a header to forward Hannah Bell, keeping the ball away from Florida keeper Paloma Peña. Bell then struck a pass back toward the middle of the box for a waiting Crosby, who delivered a solid strike to beat Peña to the keeper’s upper-left region.
However, the Gators found an answer of their own just ten minutes later. Senior forward Zoe Main made a deep run up the far right side before playing a long pass into the box between the legs of Auburn defender Eva Pattison. The pass found its mark in a wide-open Courtney Hogan, and the freshman midfielder beat Ayana to the lower-right portion of the net.
Though the Tigers have been solid on defense most of the season and have a standout keeper in Yapo, the offensive output continues to be a concern as the postseason approaches.
The last three matches alone may have cost coach James Armstrong’s team a chance at a bye in the SEC Tournament, as tight, slow draws against Kentucky, Mississippi State, and now the Gators have seen Auburn’s position in the standings falter.
Armstrong’s Tigers still sit tied for fourth, but that tie is with Oklahoma and Arkansas, who each have a game in hand over Auburn at this point in the season. Fortunately for the Tigers, the two teams play each other on Friday, opening the door for a draw that could hurt both sides going into their final matches at Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively.
Auburn’s last chance to earn three points this season comes on Sunday in Austin, Texas, against the Longhorns at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CDT, and the game will be available to watch on SEC Network+.
