The No. 10 South Carolina women's soccer team was held to a 1-1 tie against the Auburn Tigers on Sunday afternoon in Auburn, Alabama.
The Gamecocks started fast, with sophomore forward Katie Shea Collins getting a chance to score after only 25 seconds. Her shot was saved by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Ayana Yapo.
After that point, Auburn took control of the first half, restricting South Carolina's ability to attack while creating attacks of its own in the wide channels. The Tigers' effort on offense eventually paid off when South Carolina junior defender Amanda Patrick tripped up junior forward Olivia Woodson in the penalty area, giving Auburn a penalty kick and a chance to take advantage.
Redshirt senior midfielder Erin Flurey stepped up to take it and rolled it into the bottom right corner, sending senior goalkeeper Christina Tsaousis the wrong way to give Auburn the lead. Auburn would close the half 1-0 over the Gamecocks.
The second half was much like the first, with an early burst of South Carolina energy and then Auburn re-establishing control and possession. With 20 minutes left to play, though, South Carolina committed more players forward and played more direct passes in search of an equalizer to tie the game back up.
A chance fell to Collins after 79 minutes, but it went off of the crossbar and out. Another chance fell to senior midfielder Kinley Brown after 84 minutes, and her strike, which appeared to be bound for the top left corner, was saved by Yapo.
The Gamecocks' hunt for the game-tying goal left them exposed to counterattacks. The Tigers had multiple chances in the last ten minutes of game time as well, but they were blocked by the Gamecock defense.
After 87 minutes, Collins' cross into the box met the hand of Auburn freshman defender Tyler Clyburn, and after video review, the penalty was confirmed. Junior midfielder Cuyler Zulauf tied the score at 1-1 with a shot into the top left corner that Yapo couldn't save despite getting a hand to it.
After that, both teams tried to overcome the impasse with only three minutes left to play, and neither team could, leaving the final score 1-1.
Tactics board
South Carolina lined up in its preferred 4-4-2 diamond formation and Auburn in a 4-2-3-1. Early in the game to facilitate the Gamecocks' build up play, the Gamecocks brought back an extra midfielder to overload the Tigers' player at the "10" position, junior midfielder Grace Ivey, to play around the 4-2-3-1. Senior defenders Gracie Falla and Taylor Bloom also dribbled into midfield when an extra midfielder wasn't brought back, playing around Ivey.
Auburn responded by committing more midfield numbers forward to support Ivey, and senior midfielder Hayden Colson was a difficult player for South Carolina to out-maneuver. When South Carolina did get by Colson, Auburn's center backs stepped up to win the ball at midfield.
This is what allowed Auburn to trap South Carolina on its own side of the field and gave Auburn control for stretches of the game.
Auburn's play in attack was also a part of why controlling some proceedings was possible; the Tigers mostly attacked down the left with junior defender Jordyn Crosby dribbling by defenders in buildup and combining with Woodson on the left wing.
The Tigers also played through redshirt junior forward Dylan Driver, whose presence as a target forward helped create chances. Driver set up players such as Woodson, who was tied for most shots in the game with two.
Auburn out-shot the Gamecocks five to two in the first half, and 10 to six in the game.
Timely energy boost
After a first half where Auburn out-shot them, South Carolina found its rhythm near the end in the second half. As the Tigers dropped to protect its lead, the Gamecocks pressed higher to tie the game.
After a first half with two shots, South Carolina doubled that number in the second, with four shots.
Key players for the Gamecocks in both halves were Zulauf, who found space behind Auburn's midfield pressure and Shea Collins, who found space behind Auburn's back line. Collins and Zulauf were tied for the most shots for South Carolina with two each.
What's next?
No. 10 South Carolina returns home against Texas on Oct. 9 at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network.