Auburn, Ala. (EETV) - After defeating SEC rivals Alabama and No. 10 Florida, two Auburn soccer players were presented with conference honors.
Kristen Dodson was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Alyssa Malonson was named SEC Freshman of the Week. This marks the second time that Dodson has received the honor and the first for the young Malonson.
Dodson earned her honor by scoring the game-winning goal in the Tigers win over the then 10th ranked Florida Gators and by hitting the back of the net twice against the Crimson Tide. The goal against Florida was her 10th career game-winning goal.
She leads the team in goals with 8 and points with 19 which ranks her fourth and sixth in the conference, with five of her goals coming in the last five matches.
“Kristen was dominant in both games last week, not only scoring three goals but also created so many dangerous opportunities,” head coach Karen Hoppa said.
Dodson was not the only Tiger contributing, Malonson has registered an assist in the last two matches bringing her to six on the season ranking sixth in the conference.
Against Alabama Malonson was able to contribute to a 4-0 shutout of the Crimson Tide by assisting on the final goal of the Tigers highest offensive output of the season.
Against Florida, Malonson was able to get herself on the stat sheet once again by hitting Dodson on a pass that sailed from midfield to inside the box, netting a goal for Dodson and an assist for Malonson.
“Alyssa played a major role for us on both sides of the ball this week. Her two assists were huge, and she stepped up defensively by shutting down her side of the field” Hoppa said.
Malonson and the Auburn back line, including goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau, are tied for second in the SEC in shutouts, tied for third in goals allowed (five) during conference play and third in goals-against average (0.67).
The Tigers go on the road to Oxford, Miss., to play Ole Miss on Thursday, Oct. 19th at 7 p.m. CT. Auburn finishes the week by hosting LSU Sunday, Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
