44 minutes ago
SEC Network
Photo: Auburn Athletics
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn soccer senior Maddie Simpson made sure her last match on The Plains was a memorable one as she buried a pair of goals in the sixth and 74th minutes to catalyze Auburn’s 3-0 defeat of LSU Sunday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Simpson recorded the 89th brace in program history with the seventh and eighth goals of her career. They were her first two goals of the season.
„It feels great to get a win like this with the ones I love,“ Simpson said. „We played gutsy, and we took some brave chances and they really paid off for us. I’m just happy to have been a part of a full team win like this.“
With the dominant performance, Auburn improved to 7-6-4 (3-4-2) on the season. The Orange & Blue picked up its 11th win against LSU since 2011 and extended its shutout streak versus the Bayou Bengals to eight consecutive matches. LSU fell to 8-7-2 (3-5-1).
„What a great response by our team,“ Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. „We were super disappointed with the way we played and the result of last match in Gainesville, but we took back control tonight. This league is just so punishing. If you don’t bring your best every game, someone else will. I’m so proud of the team for turning it around and putting together a wonderful performance against a really good LSU club.“
Auburn offense broke through early thanks a free kick opportunity in the sixth minute. The Tigers‘ usual set piece assassin, Anna Haddock, served Simpson a strike across the face of the goal from 10 yards off the right edge of the box. Simpson leaped at the perfect moment to stick a header on the ball and direct it straight back into the net for the second game-winner of her tenure.
Haddock earned the assist on the play, collecting the 30th of her career.
Approximately 15 minutes later, Auburn struck again. The next Senior Night scorer was none other than freshman Jessica Osborne. Osborne capitalized on another set piece opportunity for the Tigers on a corner kick taken by Haddock. Haddock delivered a dime to the rookie on far post as she only needed one step and a jump to bang a header past the LSU defense and into the goal.
„I’m super excited that we could get a win for our seniors,“ Osborne said. „We laid it all out on the line, and that’s what we’re going to have to continue to do moving forward if we want to reach our postseason goals.“
On the play, Osborne became the sixth first-time goal-scorer for the Orange & Blue this season. Haddock racked up yet another assist for the sixth multi-assist outing of her career. With 31 total, she passes Kellie Evans (2000-03) for solo third all-time in school history.
„It’s awesome to see our hard work pay off,“ Haddock said. „It’s a true testament to the people I’ve been playing with the past four years. I can’t get an assist without someone finishing and scoring, so shoutout to Simp and Jess for a pair of incredible goals.“
Simpson put the nail in the coffin with Auburn’s third and final goal of the evening in minute 74. Following a blocked shot from junior Sydnie Thibodaux just inside the penalty arc, Simpson corralled the deflection and ripped off a one-touch banger from the left boot that found a home in the right upper 90.
Simpson’s brace goes down as the fourth by an Auburn woman this season, the most by the Tigers since 2021. Thibodaux received an assist on the deflection.
Overall, Auburn outshot its Tiger foe 13-9 and outmatched them 8-3 with shots on goal. Eight shots on goal is the most put up by the Orange & Blue attack in an SEC match since creating eight at Kentucky on Oct. 6, 2022. Alongside Simpson and Osborne, Haddock, Sydney Richards, Becky Contreras and Haley Duca accounted for Auburn’s quality chances.
The attack also forced five corner kicks for the second match in a row. Haddock, Erin Houston and Olivia Candelino were responsible for creating the corners. Houston and Haddock manufactured two apiece.
Defensively, the back line hung a clean sheet for the sixth time this season and the third time in conference play. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska made saves on all three dangerous chances faced to collect the 24th shutout of her career. She now has 248 career saves.
Next up, Auburn closes the regular season at Georgia Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. CT. The match will be available to stream on SEC Network+.
