AUBURN - The Auburn soccer team was selected for its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament on Monday night, drawing California in a firt-round matchup at Florida State.
“It is always exciting to see your name come up on the board," Auburn coach Karen Hoppa said. "We have worked hard, especially the last few weeks, to get the bid. ... We are very excited, and it’s going to be a great opponent but a very different opponent."
Auburn (10-8-3) and California (10-8-1) were awarded at-large selections to the tournament and will play at 6 p.m. CST on Friday night.
Katy Frierson, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference performer, said it was a thrill for the players.
“We have worked really hard these last couple of weeks and really turned our season around,” Frierson said. “It is great for all of our seniors and the rest of our team to be rewarded with a NCAA berth.”
The selection is the eighth overall for Auburn, which is 4-7-0 all-time on NCAA Tournament play, advancing into the Second Round in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2008.
Auburn will play in Tallahassee in the postseason for the fourth time in eight appearances, also going there in 2002, 2003 and 2006.
The Tigers lost to California 3-1 in their last appearance in Tallahassee.
“We are all really excited to play them again and get another shot at them,” senior captain Chelsea Yauch said. “They are a great team."
uburn won five of its’ last seven matches, including a first round match against Ole Miss at the SEC Tournament to earn the bid.
“These last six or seven games we have played great soccer," Hoppa said. "We feel like we are peaking at the right time of year, and we are excited to play again on Friday night."
Florida State (16-4-1), also an at-large selection, was awarded one of the four national No. 1 seeds along with North Carolina, Stanford and UCLA. Florida State will play Southeastern Louisiana (13-4-2), champion of the Southland Conference Tournament, in the opening round at 4:30 p.m.
