AUBURN, AL. (EETV) - This Sunday, Auburn soccer took on Florida as they looked to get their first win in SEC play. Both Auburn and Florida came into this matchup hungry with a 0-0-1 record in conference play.
With Auburn giving up their first two goals of the season against Vanderbilt in their last game, it was vital to the Auburn team to make sure they got back on track against Florida. Meanwhile, Florida looked to pick up a win before returning home from their two-game road trip.
In the first half, intensity was high, especially on defense. The Florida Gators made several strong efforts, getting close to scoring multiple times, but Maddie Prohaska continued to do what she does best. Prohaska brought in two saves for Auburn which stopped any momentum generated by the Gators. The defensive battle continued for the majority of the first half, with Florida recording a total of four shots to Auburn's just two in the first half, resulting in a 0-0 score going into the half.
To begin the second half, it was anyone's game. Auburn came out with an urgency on offense, striking first with a goal from Jordyn Crosby off of a set piece. Crosby's goal gave the Tigers to lead with just 26 minutes to go in regulation. The goal came off a direct kick from Anna Haddock and an assist from Becky Contreras.
The Gators continued to battle as the matchup was far from over. Florida's goalie Alexa Goldberg recorded three saves in the second half, helping her team any way she could. The Gators were able to shoot two times in the last minute, fighting until the clock hit zero, but the Auburn defense proved to be too much. Florida was unable to gather momentum in the second half, remaining scoreless this game. Auburn, once again, delivered a shutout at home.
This matchup proved to be a tight battle until the end. Overall Auburn was able to record 12 shots compared to Florida’s seven shots. Florida also doubled Auburn’s number of fouls, recording 12 compared to Auburn’s six. Maddie Prohaska and Jordyn Crosby played vital roles in Auburn picking up this win with the support of their teammates.
With this win, Auburn picks up their first win in SEC play, as well as their first win over Florida since 2021. The Tigers will play again on Thursday, Sep. 26th, where they will travel to Texas A&M for their first road game in the SEC. That game will air at 7 p.m. CT in SEC Network and ESPN+.
