AUBURN, ALA. (EETV) – No. 14 Auburn (11-1-2) picked up their second draw of SEC play so far as the Alabama Crimson Tide (7-3-5) traveled to the Plains for the Iron Bowl of Soccer. The rivals split the points for the first time since 2002, drawing 1-1 at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Both teams were held in check by physical defense in the first half. The defenses locked down the opposing offenses, turning away every goal-scoring opportunity. Auburn got a few shots off, but most could not find their way on target. Becky Contreras finally got a shot on the net, but it was turned away by Ellie Lanyi, the keeper for the Crimson Tide, in the 43rd minute. Coach Karen Hoppa commented that she thought her team looked stiff in the first half, which did not allow them to play the free style of soccer that has been so successful for them this season. The Tigers and Tide went into the break tied at zero.
The second half started with much more excitement than the first half of play. Alabama attacked early, striking to open the scoring in the 52nd minute. Kate Henderson put the ball past Auburn goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska on the bottom right, giving the Tide a 1-0 lead. The Tigers woke up after that, going on the attack to get the equalizer-- and eventually, it arrived.
Going into Thursday, Auburn was the only team in the SEC to have not shot a penalty kick, and the Tigers had not scored a penalty kick since August of 2022 in a game against Southern Miss. That all changed when Maison Smith committed a foul to give Auburn their first chance from the spot all season. Carly Thatcher calmly stepped up for the Tigers and put the ball in the bottom left past a diving Lanyi to tie the match at one apiece. Auburn kept attacking, but Lanyi and the Alabama defense held just enough to keep the score 1-1 until the final whistle.
Auburn outshot the Tide 15-8 and put more shots on target, leading in that category 5-2. Carly Thatcher knocked in her third goal of the season, her second in the past two matches. Thatcher also tied with Olivia Woodson for the team lead in shots at four for the match. Goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska made a big stop in the 64th minute to keep the game even for her only save of the night. The Tigers move to 11-1-2 on the season and 3-1-2 in SEC play.
Auburn women’s soccer travels to Knoxville to take on the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee on Sunday, October 13th. The match will be streamed live on ESPNU.
