The 2026-27 athletic season for the Auburn Tigers got underway this weekend as Tiger Soccer opened the season with a pair of matches at home. The weekend was deemed a success with Auburn drawing in one match, and winning another.
The first match of the season took place on Wednesday when No. 25 Clemson paid a visit to the Plains. It was a defensive battle as neither team was able to get off more than eight shots, resulting in a 0-0 draw. Goalkeeper Ayana Yapo logged two crucial saves in the 70th and 71st minute to nail down the win.
“For us to bend at times but never break and continue to be threatening on the counterattack, I’m just really proud of the team effort tonight," Auburn head coach James Armstrong said of Auburn's draw with Clemson.
"I think it’s a great start. Would have wanted to win, but we had the best chance of the game and the keeper made a great save. That’s soccer sometimes. We’ve just got to build on this momentum.”
Auburn found its offensive stride in the second game of the weekend when it defeated Jax State on Sunday, 5-0. Auburn scored three of its goals in the first half, and was able to get an impressive 23 shots off in the victory. Dylan Driver opened the game with a goal in the 12th minute, with Hannah Bell following suit with two goals of her own before halftime. Auburn closed the match with a pair of goals by Fizz Hutton and Chloe Taylor.
Auburn's offense stole the show, but its defense deserves its flowers. The visiting Gamecocks took just six shots on the day, and Yapo only recorded one save on the night.
“I saw a top-team performance tonight,” Armstrong said after Auburn's win over Jax State. “Everybody that was available to play played tonight, and I think a lot of those players took the opportunity to show what they’ve got. We didn’t go as deep against Clemson, so it was really important to rest some of our key players. Jacksonville State is a really possession-oriented team, so to score five goals and concede zero is something we’ll take for our first win of the season.”
Auburn rounds out its opening homestand this Thursday when it hosts Southern Illinois for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Thursday's match will be the final home match before SEC play begins on Sept. 11 for the Tigers, who will play four games in either Atlanta or Birmingham beginning Thursday, Aug. 27 at Kennesaw State.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn soccer gets through opening weekend unscathed
