Alabama Soccer Set for Big Game vs. Auburn
10/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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The Alabama (9-9, 5-5 SEC) soccer team will travel to No. 10 Auburn (13-2-2, 8-0-2 SEC) Friday night for the Iron Bowl of Soccer.
It will be the final Southeastern Conference game of the season for the Tide as it looks to improve its position in the SEC tournament. Currently Alabama sits in fifth place in the conference with 15 points, one point behind fourth place Vanderbilt and one point ahead of sixth place Ole Miss.
The Tigers have already clinched the SEC Western Division crown and could possibly earn the No. 1 seed in the SEC tournament with a win Friday night. They remain the only team in the conference without a loss.
“We’re excited about playing another top team, and obviously with Auburn’s No. 10 ranking they are one of the best teams not only in the SEC but in the nation as well,” Alabama head coach Don Staley said.
Alabama has won four of its last six games in the SEC and will face a top ten team for the second consecutive game. The Tide lost close Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn. to then No. 6 Tennessee, 2-1.
The winner of Friday night’s game will take control of the all-time series lead. Each team has won five games in the series along with two ties. Alabama’s last victory over the Tigers came in 1999. The last time the Tide traveled to Auburn, the two teams played to a scoreless tie.
“We realize this will be a big challenge for us,” Staley said. “We’ll face a big crowd and a big-game atmosphere, but I’m proud of how we have played over the last few weeks and we’re anxious to play the game.”
After struggling early in the season to score goals, Alabama has now had the last two SEC Offensive Players of the Week. Gillian Kilburn and Kylie Boyd have each had multiple goal games over the past two weeks. Alabama hopes to see more of the same Friday night.
Alabama will return home to play its final regular season game of the year Sunday afternoon against Mississippi Valley State on Senior Day. The Tide will say thank you to four of its seniors.
