Auburn gets breaks in 2-1 win
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn scored two goals in the second half and recorded a come-from-behind 2-1 Southeastern Conference soccer victory over Arkansas on Friday.
Arkansas dropped to 6-3-2 overall and 0-3 in the SEC while Auburn improved to 5-3-3 and 2-1.
Arkansas led 1-0 following the first half, but a pair of breaks went Auburn’s way in the second half.
Auburn tied the game on a header by Heather Havron off a corner kick from the left side at the 58:59 mark. The Tigers had four players bunched in front of the far corner of the goal, and Havron was able to sneak the ball by Razorback keeper Britni Williams.
A bigger break turned out to be the game winner. Julie King was credited with a 35-yard free kick goal, but the ball went in off Arkansas’ Laurel Pastor at 79:19.
Pastor tried a header to clear the ball from in front of the net, but the ball back went backwards and got through between the outstretched fingers of Williams and the top of the crossbar.
“We had a great effort tonight, but it’s the same issue we had against Tennessee,” head coach Erin Aubry said. “We gave a great performance, but we had 10 serves come across the box and we didn’t get in on the end of them. That is a mentality we have to start solving.
“We had some tough breaks, but in the end, we need to finish the opportunities we created. We’re still working at resolving that and I think we’ll get there.”
Arkansas was clearly the more aggressive team in the first half. Most of the action took place on Auburn’s side of the field with the Razorbacks holding an 11-6 advantage in shot attempts.
Arkansas scored at the 19:36 mark when Allie Chandler scored in front off a crossing pass by Pastor from the right corner.
“Allie did an amazing job of creating,” Aubry said. “If we come through, it’s a 4-2 game instead of 2-1.”
After being out-shot 11-6 in the first half, Auburn was more aggressive in the second. The Tigers had a 15-7 shot advantage for the period and a 21-18 advantage for the game.
“In the second half, they played a much different game than in the first half,” Aubry said. “We knew that was coming. We have to be able to respond to them in the correct way. I’m happy with the effort. We just need to change or mentality on scoring goals.”
Williams finished with 10 saves for Arkansas and now has 205 for her career. She is sixth on Arkansas’ all-time list and just the sixth Razorback to reach 200.
Arkansas continues its road trip with Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. game at Alabama. The game is being televised by Fox Sports South and will be carried in Arkansas by Fox Sports Southwest.
Download: ark, aub.pdf
