Katy Frierson had three assists, Tatiana Coleman had two and Julie King scored the game-winning goal for the fourth time in her career as the No. 22 Auburn soccer team opened up Southeastern Conference play with a convincing 4-1 win over Kentucky at the Auburn Soccer Complex. The win ran Auburn’s unbeaten streak to eight straight games and improved the team’s record to 7-1-1, 1-0-0 SEC while Kentucky dropped to 7-2-0, 0-1-0 SEC.

 

“I was really pleased with the outcome and really pleased with the performance,” Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. “We scored some really great goals and we had a balanced attack, which was great. We had one (goal) off of a free kick, one off of a corner and two in the run of play. We had lots of looks and lots of chances and we are happy to be 1-0 and tied for first in the SEC.”

 

Frierson became Auburn’s all-time career assists leader with her assist on Jessica Rightmer’s goal in the 22^nd minute and then continued to pile on the points, collecting the second assist on King’s game-winning header in the 56th minute and then serving in the free kick that Chelsea Gandy-Cromer headed in in the 70^th minute. The senior midfielder now has 37 career assists and 85 career points, which is second all-time in Auburn history.

 

“Katy setting the career assist record is just phenomenal. We knew it was possible when she came in, she was that type of player,” Hoppa said. “She is certainly the best play-maker Auburn has ever had and one of the best in the country. Any career record is a great accomplishment and for her to get it this early in the season when we are at the halfway point of the season, we are excited about what she can do the rest of the year.”

 

“It is a huge honor,” Frierson said of topping the Auburn career charts. “This is a great program. It’s just a matter of having the people that can score the goals and all the credit goes to the girls that scored today and throughout my career. They made my passes look good and they were easy passes to make.”

 

Cate also tied a school record in the win as her goal in the 60^th minute not only put Auburn ahead 3-0 but it also marked the fourth straight game that she has scored a goal in, tying a mark done six other times, most recently by Tammy Waine and Ginger Sellick in 2000. Her score came after Coleman sent a cross clear across the box to an uncovered Cate, who had nothing between her and the back of the net. The goal was her team-leading fifth of the season.

 

After weathering a tough Kentucky attack for the first 15 minutes, Auburn turned the tables on its opponent, finishing the first half with 14 shots to just four for Kentucky, all of which came in the first 14 minutes of play. Auburn finished the night with 21 total shots, 11 of which went on frame as a trio of Kentucky goalkeepers combined to make seven saves.

 

The Auburn net also had an exciting night as Amy Howard returned to the field after missing the first eight matches after undergoing surgery on her leg. She relieved a very effective Chandler Hillen (one save) to start the second half and ended the night with three saves and one goal allowed in 45 minutes of play.

 

“It was great to see her out there,” Hoppa said of Howard. “All the credit goes to both Amy Howard and (athletic trainer) Cindy Campbell. They both really worked hard and for her to come back at 16 weeks is an amazing accomplishment and a testament to her work-rate and how much effort she put into the rehab.”

 

Auburn returns to the field at 2:30pm on Sunday when it plays host to Vanderbilt, which lost, 2-0 to Alabama on Friday night in Tuscaloosa.

 

Follow Auburn Soccer on twitter @AU_Soccer.