AUBURN, Ala. – Second-half goals from juniors Mary Raymond and Taylor Yount lifted the Samford women's soccer team past the Tigers of Auburn University on Thursday night with a 2-0 victory at the Auburn Soccer Complex. This marks the first time in program history that the Bulldogs have captured an outright win in the NCAA tournament to advance to the second round.
"Winning in the plains is never easy. Auburn is really good, especially here on Friday night, but we found a way to do it," said Samford coach Todd Yelton. "I thought we played fantastic in the second half. At halftime, I said I think we are in a really good spot, and every once in a while, I get it right."
"I think what we did really well in the second half was we were able to connect a lot more passes. In the first half, Auburn's pressure was immense," said Yelton. "The strength of our squad and our rotation, and the fact that we can rotate kids through. That became a big part of the second half."
KEY PLAYS
After a strong buildup out of back from Alyssa Conarton, the Bulldogs found themselves at the top of the 18-yard box with the ball at Yount’s feet. The junior striker would attempt to find teammate Kyla Reynolds out on the right flank, but her cross would be headed away by an Auburn defender. Raymond got on the end of the clearance and launched a shot to the upper left 90 netting for a 1-0 Bulldog lead at the 60th minute.
An insurance goal would be added on 17 minutes later from Cape Coral, Florida, native Yount after she fired a shot past Auburn's goalkeeper, Maddie Prohaska, into the bottom right netting to double Samford's lead. Reynolds used her speed to fly past her defender in the final third for an in-swinging cross into the box. The service would at first be deflected, but Yount was there to put it away on the one-touch finish.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
Auburn and Samford combined for 21 shots on the night with the Tigers logging a game-high 15 and the Bulldogs with six.
Samford tallied 14 fouls for a total of 248 on the year, while Auburn recorded nine of its own.
Raymond registered her first game-winner on the season for a total of nine goals this season to go along with four assists.
Yount captured her seventh goal for the Bulldogs this year, while Reynolds recorded her second assist and fifth of her career.
UP NEXT
The Samford women's soccer team will head to Durham, North Carolina, for the second round of the NCAA tournament with the Bulldogs playing the winner of St. John's vs. Brown on Friday, Nov. 19. The time will be announced at later date.