Auburn Soccer

Auburn Tigers (14-4-2)

vs.

UCF (18-4) • Nov. 15 • 3:30 p.m. CDT

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Scouting the Golden Knights... Central Florida enters the NCAA Tournament with an 18-4 record and a seven-game win streak. The Golden Knights are averaging nearly three goals per game while their opponents are just under one. The duo of Jennifer Montgomery and Nicole Cieslak have combined for 29 of the team’s 64 goals this season with 17 and 12 respectively. Their 29 goals are more than their opponents have scored all season (22). Goalkeeper Jessica Kuhlman in 21 games for the Golden Knights and holds a 0.88 goals against average with a 15-4 record. The senior has made 62 saves this season and allowed 18 goals.

Looking Back... Auburn was upset in the SEC Tournament first round Nov. 7 against No. 8 seed LSU. The No. 1 seeded Auburn fell 1-0 after capturing the regular-season title. The Tigers not only earned the SEC title, but also picked up the league’s top honors as Sarah Steinmann won SEC Player of the Year and head coach Karen Richter won SEC Coach of the Year.

What Could Happen... If Auburn would happen to defeat Central Florida and move on to the NCAA second round, the Tigers would face the winner of the Ole Miss vs. Florida State game to be played Friday at 6 p.m. CDT. If Auburn moves on to the second round, it would be the first time the Tigers have progressed that far.

The Richter File... Karen Richter is in her fourth season at the helm of the Auburn soccer program. In just four seasons, Richter has led Auburn from the bottom of the SEC to SEC regular season champions in 2002. She came to Auburn from her alma mater Central Florida where she posted a 64-44-9 record over six seasons. Richter led UCF to five TAAC titles and a trip to the 1998 NCAA Tournament. She holds a 108-76-12 overall mark in this her 10th season as a collegiate head coach. She has led her teams to six double-digit win seasons, including 11 last season with the Tigers. While at Auburn she has posted a 44-32-3 mark, including leading the Tigers to a school record 14-4-2 overall record and a 6-1-2 SEC record in 2002. In 2001 Richter was named to the United States National Youth Team coaching staff as the goalkeeper coordinator and is currently serving as an assistant coach on the US Under-19 World Championship team which won the Junior World Cup in September 2002.

100!!!... Head coach Karen Richter reached the 100th victory of her coaching career at home against South Alabama on Sept. 15 in a 4-0 victory. Richter earned 64 wins in her six seasons at Central Florida and has 44 victories in four seasons at Auburn. She has become the 50th coach to reach the milestone.

Back This Season... Assisting Karen Richter again this year are assistant head coach Matthew Mott and assistant coach Heather Walker. Mott, a longtime assistant to Richter at Central Florida, made the move with Richter to the Plains from Orlando and is in his fourth season at Auburn. The Central Florida graduate was promoted to assistant head coach following the 2000 season. Mott and his wife Jennifer became proud parents for the first time in July to Matthew Dean Mott, Jr. Welker is in her second season at Auburn. The 1997 Tulsa graduate came to Auburn after stints as assistant coach at Tulane and Memphis.

Over the Airwaves... Auburn soccer made history in 2001 by having matches broadcast live on the radio. The Tigers will be making even more history in 2002 as all but one match will be over the airwaves. Andy Burcham will provide the play-by-play on WAUD 1230 AM for the games and Chuck Gallina will provide color commentary. Auburn was 4-2 in the six matches carried live on the radio last season. The Tigers defeated Vanderbilt, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi and lost at Kentucky and to Florida.

Auburn In The NCAA Tournament... Last season, Auburn made its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament as the Tigers earned a bid to Clemson for a meeting with Florida State. Auburn fell in the first round match in a 1-0 loss to the Seminoles.

Top Honors... Not only did Auburn earn the regular season SEC championship title, but the Tigers also took home top individual honors. Sophomore forward Sarah Steinmann was selected by league coaches as the SEC Player of the Year. It is the first time in SEC history that a player from the SEC West won the award and the first time in seven years that a player rather than from Florida won. Head coach Karen Richter also took home top honors as the SEC Coach of the Year. This award is also a first for Auburn as the fourth-year head coach took home the trophy.

Looks Familiar... Auburn head coach Karen Richter will see some familiar faces Friday as the Tigers face the Golden Knights of UCF. Richter was head coach at UCF from 1993-1999 and recruited the team’s current senior class, which is comprised of eight seniors. Richter and assistant head coach Matt Mott did not coach the group, but brought them to Central Florida before departing for the Plains. While at the helm, Richter helped lead UCF to three wins over Auburn. Richter began her career at UCF as a player where she was a goalkeeper from 1987-90. UCF made it to the NCAA Final Four in her first season. The current Auburn head coach became an assistant at UCF from 1991-92, and then on to the head coaching position.

Second Home... Tallahassee is starting to become a second home to Auburn in the postseason. Auburn baseball has been to Florida State for postseason action in 1976, 1989, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001, softball appeared in its first NCAA Tournament in 2001 in Tallahassee, and now the Auburn soccer team in 2002. Baseball has a record of 14-9 in the postseason in Tallahassee and the softball team finished 0-2 last year in the NCAA Tournament.

Streak Ended... Previous to the SEC Tournament, Auburn had not suffered a loss since its’ first SEC game of the season in a 4-2 loss to Tennessee. Auburn had two ties, but had not lost in eight contests until the Tigers’ 1-0 loss to LSU in the first round of the SEC Tournament.

Strength In Net... Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Rivera has continued to prove why she is worthy of all her acclaim. The Miami, Fla., native has now earned the Auburn record for shutouts in a season with eight, and shutouts in a career with 13.

Where’s the Love?... Even though the Tigers have won the SEC title, they are not ranked in any of the four soccer top 25 polls this week. Auburn was ranked at No. 25 in the past two Soccer America polls, but is just receiving votes in the CSCAA/adidas poll. Auburn earned a season-high ranking of No. 9 in Soccer Buzz earlier this season, but has since fallen out of the top 25.

If You Build It... Auburn’s success in 2002 has brought out fans consistently this season despite inclement weather through most of the year. In 2002, the Tigers have recorded the No. 3 mark of all-time in attendance with 1380 present to see the final match of the regular season vs. Alabama. The 2002 season holds three of the top ten attendance records.

Setting The Standard... With the 2002 regular season concluded, the Auburn Tigers have set a new precedence in AU soccer. With six SEC wins and 14 overall, Auburn broke its best-ever win mark in both areas. For the first time ever, the team has clinched the regular season SEC title. The Tigers also broke the season shutout record with nine in a 1-0 shutout of Florida and then picked up another against Alabama in a 0-0 tie to again add to the record.

Gotta Wear Shades... The Auburn soccer team has a bright future as the Tigers’ primary offensive production has come from its underclassmen. Freshmen and sophomores have scored 37 of the Tigers’ 43 goals this season and the freshmen and sophomores boast the top five scorers on the team and seven of the top ten. Seven of Auburn’s starters are either freshmen or sophomores.

Feel The Power... Sophomore midfielder Sara Power broke out against Mississippi State and Ole Miss scoring two game-winning goals and adding another goal and an assist. Power was named the SEC Player of the Week on Oct. 14 and was also awarded with the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week and the Soccer America Team of the Week. Power now is second on the team in goals with seven on the year.

Back On Top... The Auburn Tigers bettered their Co-SEC Western Division title from last season as they clinched the out-right West title and have earned their first-ever overall title in 2002.

On the Tube... Oct. 6 at Georgia, the Tigers made their first TV appearance of the season as they took on the Bulldogs. Auburn defeated Georgia 1-0 in a live broadcast on FOX Sports South.

Banner Unveiled... Against Mississippi State this season, the Tigers’ banner celebrating their 2001 SEC Western Division Co-Champion title was displayed for the first time at the AU Soccer Complex. The title was the first in Auburn soccer history.

Injury Report... The Tigers have suffered two major losses this season as freshman Jada Stewart will sit out the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to her foot due to a broken bone. Just recently, in the 2-0 win over New Mexico, freshman Ashley Willis suffered a fracture to her tibia as she was tackled by a UNM player late in the game. Willis will also not return for the remainder of the season.

De-Fense... Auburn’s goalkeepers have looked outstanding this season with 10 shutouts and only 16 goals scored against them all season. However, the Tiger keepers have only had to face 81 shots on goal in 20 games. That includes just one shot on goal for sophomore goalkeeper Megan Rivera against South Alabama Sept. 15. The reason? Ashley Eason, Jenn Walters, Sandy Carnes, Erin Hinson, Kellie Evans and a few other Tigers, who have stepped up play defensively this season. Because of that defensive pressure, Auburn has out-shot opponents 292-157 and have out-scored opponents 43-16.

Where We Rank... After pulling out to a 6-0 record on the season, the Tigers were recognized for their accomplishments by earning a highest-ever No. 9 ranking in the Sept. 16 Soccer Buzz top 25 rankings. The Tigers have recently fallen out of all polls after two weeks at No. 25 in Soccer America.

No Sophomore Slump Here...The Auburn sophomores have stepped up their play in their second season for the Tigers leaving no chance of a sophomore slump in 2002. Sophomore Sarah Steinmann leads the team in scoring with six goals and nine assists. Chrissy Culver leads the team in goals with eight and has added four assists. Following close behind is Sara Power with seven goals and four assists on the season. On defense, Jenn Walters is a mainstay for the team and has also contributed to the scoring with two goals and five assists. In the goal, goalkeeper Megan Rivera is coming off a World Championship title with the U.S. Under-19 team, which won at the start of Sept. Rivera has posted eight shutouts already this season and has earned a 0.76 goals against average in 20 games.

Rookie Success... This season, the Tigers have been impressed with their freshmen output. In 2002, the freshman class has scored 14 of the team’s 43 goals. Leading the freshmen is Jaqueline Schwarz, who has scored five goals and assisted on four and Kristin Stewart has scored three goals and assisted on seven. Jessie Allan has scored three times on the season and assisted on four more. Freshman goalkeeper Laura Snell earned a shutout in her first collegiate start and held Evansville to a 3-1 score with the only goal coming on a penalty kick. For her efforts, she was named the SEC Player of the Week as well as being named to the Soccer America and Soccer Buzz teams of the week.

Big Expectations... The Tigers were voted the top team in the SEC Western Division for the preseason of 2002 by other SEC coaches. In the SEC, Auburn earned 10 of the 12 votes to be the No. 1 team in the division. One of the two votes not for the Tigers came from Auburn, as each team is not permitted to vote for their own team. Auburn lived up to those expectations as they claimed not only the SEC West title, but also the overall title. Auburn returns eight starters from the 2001 team and added an impressive freshman class to the lineup this year.

Snell Steps Up In Rivera Absence... Auburn freshman goalkeeper Laura Snell had big shoes to fill in the absence of All-American Megan Rivera, and lived up to the challenge. Snell shut out No. 17 West Virginia 2-0 in her first collegiate start and went on to earn the 3-1 win over Evansville with the one goal coming on a penalty shot. Snell was named the SEC Player of the Week for her efforts and was recently named to the Soccer America Team of the Week and the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week.