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Two streaks ended for Auburn on Friday night. The shutout streak died 567 minutes into the season, and the win streak was put to bed 73 minutes later. Auburn just dug themselves a hole they couldn't dig back out of in Columbia, Missouri. It looked like Sunday might be more of the same, but Auburn got off the mat and popped in two quick goals to salvage a weekend split against USA. Let's break both games down.
Auburn 1, Missouri 2
Auburn's shutout streak ended as the second best in team history behind a 687 minute streak in 2003. It was a Mizzou cross into Savannah Trujillo, who one-time finished it past Le Beau, that finally ended it. Missouri appeared to take a step toward putting the game away in the 66th minute with a goal from Alli Magaletta, but Auburn was able to answer mere seconds later.
Auburn was out-shot 26 to 12, with only two of the Good Tigers shots coming on frame. Meanwhile, Sarah Le Beau was forced to make 8 saves. To that point in the season, those 8 saves counted for more than one-third of Le Beau's saves on the season. Auburn was completely overrun in the midfield, and even this talented back line couldn't keep Missouri from taking advantage.
Auburn Goal
- Brooke Ramsier (3rd of the season), 68th minute: Ramsier fired a PK into the right side of the net past Dossey to pull one goal back for Auburn. Neither Auburn nor Missouri's official box scores have a record of who was fouled in the box that led to the PK.
Missouri Goals
- Savannah Trujillo (2), 17th minute: Trujillo one-timed a cross past a helpless Le Beau. Hannah Alspach might have been able to get a touch on it, but Trujillo had the space necessary and took advantage.
- Alli Magaletta (1), 66th minute: Macee Blanchard fired a cross to the back post to find Magaletta for her first goal of the season.
Auburn 2, South Alabama 1
Sometimes you have a little trouble with an in-state foe that many believe shouldn't be on your level. When that happens, a great team must find a way to pull themselves back into the game and let their talent shine through. That's exactly what Auburn did after falling behind....South Alabama 1-0. Auburn got two quick goals after falling behind, then killed the game off for a 2-1 victory. The win gives the Tigers their first undefeated run through their non-conference schedule in school history. It wasn't a nightmare slate, check the preview article from last weekend to see what Mizzou put themselves through, but they won every single one of them.
The game's three goals were scored within a span of just 4 minutes and 12 seconds. Both teams found better defensive form as the game proceeded. Auburn was able to hold USA to just 5 shots in the second half. Only one of them forced a save from Le Beau.
Ellie Leek was fantastic on Sunday. Both Auburn goals had her fingerprints all over them.
Auburn Goals
- Taylor Troutman (1), 25th minute: Ellie Leek started a counter attack by racing down the right side. Her cross into the box found Troutman at the back post, who expertly headed the ball back towards the near post. USA keeper Sarah Hay had no chance to stop the shot.
- Casie Ramsier (4), 26th minute: Just 68 seconds later, Leek started another Auburn attack. Again she attacked from the right wing, finding Troutman at the top of the box. Troutman then worked her way to the left side before firing a cross back right again. With the Jaguar defense completely off balance, Casie Ramsier took the team lead in goals with a header that deflected in off of Hay.
South Alabama Goal
- Hannah Godfrey (2), 22nd minute: Auburn's set piece defending was very lacking in the early going. It nearly cost them a goal a few minutes prior, and then a USA corner finally burned them. Jemma Purfield sent in a perfect corner and found an unmarked Godfrey for what turned out to be a short-lived lead.
What does it all mean?
Auburn made it through their non-conference schedule 7-0-0. You can't ask for more than that. However, the SEC slate is off to a winless start. So it goes. Auburn now knows that it must bring a different level of intensity in order to win on the road and to win in-conference. Le Beau has been fantastic this season, but not even Hope Solo could face 10 shots on goal without letting one into the net. I think their true form is closer to what we've seen at home this season. They'll look to prove me right in Knoxville, TN on Friday.