Auburn Soccer 6th Weekend Review

What a weekend it was for Auburn. The Tigers took advantage of getting two ranked teams at home to score two last minute victories. Let's break them down and figure out just how Auburn made the leap towards the top of the SEC.

Auburn 3, LSU 2 (2 OT)

Box Score | Highlights

Specific Prediction

Auburn wins 2-0. Both of Auburn's goals will directly involve Brooke Ramsier, whether by scoring or assist (hockey assists count, because the NCAA says so)

I'd like to give myself a point for predicting an Auburn win, and Auburn should have won 2-1 in regulation, more on that in a bit, but I don't really deserve it. Brooke Ramsier didn't manage a goal or an assist despite playing all 102 minutes. As we'll see, I really just picked the wrong Ramsier sister.

Though LSU scored first, Auburn dominated the game. They controlled the midfield from the second half through the overtime periods. They had nearly twice as many shots (23-12). They had more than twice as many corners (14-6). As the game moved through double-overtime, it seemed Auburn would take a hard-luck draw, but Kala Faulkner moved more into the attack and kept pressure on the other Tigers. A Hannah Alspach cross found SEC Offensive Player of the Week Casie Ramsier at the back post for the golden goal winner.

Auburn Goal Breakdown

1. Casie Ramsier (5th goal of the season) , 40th minute: Charlotte VanIshoven's corner came to the near side of the box, and Ramsier belted it on the volley into the far corner. You can't take a volley shot better than this one.
2. Taylor Troutman (2), 64th minute: Casie Ramsier (sense a theme yet?) headed a Kala Faulkner free kick towards a streaking Troutman at the left post. Troutman slid it right past the keeper for her second of the year
3. Casie Ramsier (6), 103rd minute: Faulkner received a hockey assist for her work on this one, but it deserves so much more. As the overtime periods progressed, Auburn Coach Karen Hoppa had Auburn's captain move more into the midfield to allow the Ramsier sisters to stay forward. After LSU gained possession in the box, 2 attempts to clear were blocked by Faulkner. Finally, she was able to maintain possession and work the ball to Hannah Alspach. She then fired in a cross that managed to find Casie's head. Then Casie did what Casie does, and Auburn got the win their play deserved.

LSU Goal Breakdown

1. Heather Magee (1), 11th minute: A deflected cross fell to Magee at the top left of the 18-yard-box. She fired a shot towards the top corner, leaving Le Beau no chance. The degree of difficulty on this shot was insane. Chistiano Ronaldo wouldn't hit this shot more than 5 times out of 10. Sometimes you just have to shrug and move on to the kickoff.
2. Jorian Baucom (11), 86th minute: Baucom fired home a penalty kick that Le Beau was only able to deflect as it went in the back of the net. Maybe I just can't take off the orange and blue glasses, but there was no way the foul on Faulkner was worth a penalty. Faulkner was simply marking the LSU forward, and the LSU player just fell. I've seen Premier League strikers carded for simulation for less flopping. About the only thing I can say for LSU here is that they should have scored a few minutes earlier on a wide open header that somehow hit the crossbar and came straight down in front of the line.

Auburn 3, Florida 2

Box Score | Highlights

Specific Prediction

1-1 draw. Auburn comes out on fire and notches an early goal from Ellie Leek, but ships a goal late in the second half. Both teams will have good chances in the overtime periods, but neither can find the winner.

It's rare that a Hard Barnin' Man such as myself fails to barn hard enough. I thought Auburn would certainly play the Gators tough, but I thought a win might be a bridge too far. The Leek prediction wasn't too bad. She did place all three of her shots on frame.

A scoreless first half gave way to an absolute barn burner in the second. Auburn jumped to a 2-0 lead within the first four minutes of the half, but Florida had Savannah Jordan. Savannah Jordan is very good at soccer. A PK and a breakaway tied the game and set up the heroics from Casie Ramsier.

Auburn Goal Breakdown

1. Casie Ramsier (7), 47th minute: Ramsier's first shot was blocked, but fell right back at her feet. Her second attempt beat Tysinger for the first goal of the game.
2. Kristen Dodson (3), 49th minute: Not even two full minutes later, Auburn countered a Florida attack with Dodson racing down the right flank. She beat the keeper low to the near post to give Auburn The Most Dangerous Lead in Soccer(TM).
3. Casie Ramsier (8), 90th minute: The Tigers won a late corner that was taken by Taylor Troutman. She sent a high kick into the middle of the box to Brooke Ramsier's head. Brooke was able to flick it to her sister, who brought the ball down and fired it home for the winner

Florida Goal Breakdown

1. Savannah Jordan (11), 58th minute: The wild second half continued with Florida drawing a foul in the box. Jordan hit a laser of a shot into the top right corner. No chance for Le Beau.
2. Savannah Jordan (12), 73rd minute: This time it was Florida's turn to hit on the counter. The ball came to Jordan as she raced through Faulkner and Clark to beat Le Beau. Only one thing you can do:

   

What does it all mean?

Auburn improves to 10-1-0 (3-1-0) with the Iron Pitch looming Thursday in Tuscaloosa. That's a great place to be.

Casie Ramsier was incredible this weekend. She had 4 goals and 1 assist against two quality opponents. If she and her sister continue to control the midfield, Auburn should finish in the top 3 of the SEC. That would mean a bye in Orange Beach, and a certain trip to the NCAA Tournament.

War Eagle!