It is the second game of the SEC season.
It’s also a time for the Maroon & White to break what has been a somewhat heartbreaking run of form in back-to-back losses.
On Thursday, Texas A&M will put its everything into both halves of the game against Auburn with hopes to continue what has become a three-game unbeaten streak against the Tigers.
The Aggies (3-2-3, 0-1-0) will face the Tigers (4-2-2, 0-0-1) at Auburn Soccer Complex with a hunger as kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
“Against Auburn, you got to be on point. The timing needs to be on point,” A&M head coach G Guerrieri told TexAgs Live this week. “With a team, we cannot assume what the next person is going to do.”
With the first game of the SEC slate ending in a taxing loss to Georgia, Guerrieri & Co. have kept a sense of hope and urgency to prove otherwise.
Last Friday, the 24th-ranked Bulldogs came out victorious over the Aggies in College Station, 3-0.
A&M left Ellis Field with a loss, but it provided an action step to continue on.
“We’ve just got to be able to (score more goals),” Guerrieri said. “That will be something that we have to address before we go on the road to Auburn.”
The Aggies are now entering the meat of the SEC season, and it will be rigorous.
Thursday will be a must-watch as the Ags play for themselves and the fans.
“We’ve got to make more decisive decisions in the type of runs we make off the ball to make it easier on the ball,” Guerreri said. “We need the outcome to happen.”
Auburn’s lineup features a former Aggie and players of varying levels of experience, from junior transfer midfielder Grace Ivey to freshman defender Lily Devereaux, who has started eight games.
While A&M does not have an Auburn-transfer-turned-Aggie, the Ags do feature a wide variety of age-mixture players.
However, Guerrieri’s squad appears to have a more developed team than a year ago, as Leah Diaz, Leah Pirro, Bella Yakel and Sydney Fuller are some of the usual starters.
Auburn’s Olivia Woodson accounts for nearly 10 percent of the Tigers’ 162 total shots. On the other hand, the Maroon & White 145 shots are made with attempts from Diaz (32), Trinity Buchanan (25), Kaylee Noble (11) and more.
Between the two teams, the Tigers excel in minimizing opponent scoring chances, conceding four goals for an average of 0.50 goals against per match.
While A&M has allowed nine goals in their last eight games, Fuller’s 19 saves brings her save percentage to .704.
Once again, just like any other sport in the SEC, every game is going to be emotionally demanding.
“On Friday, we were disappointed,” Guerrieri said. “After Sunday night, I felt really encouraged.”
A positive result on The Plains would be even more encouraging.
