from oanow.com

Auburn High’s girls rarely gave the Northview defense time to breathe Tuesday night.

The Tigers were in a seemingly constant attack mode in their 3-0 win over the Cougars in the first round of the AHSAA soccer playoffs at Duck Samford Stadium.

Auburn (16-3-1) outshot Northview 25-3 on the night.

“This is as good of attacking soccer as I’ve ever seen them play,” coach Mac Matthews said. “Because I give Northview credit. They were an organized team in what they were doing and they were hard to break down. I was very pleased with that.”

The Tigers shook off a relatively slow start and got on the board in the 20th minute. Christine Schwartz found Kristin Boydston at the top of the Cougars’ box and the senior rifled it in off the crossbar.

Auburn added another goal three minutes later, with Briana Hunsberger finding the upper left corner of the net on a corner kick to send the Tigers into the half up 2-0.

Through it all, the Tigers’ back four was also making life very difficult for the Cougars’ attackers.

Madison Hill, Kalli Jones, Hayden Pangle and Liz Alley cleaned up any balls got as far as their line, and Hill and Alley even proved instrumental in setting up the offense.

“They attack all night long,” Matthews said. “They have the hardest job on the field.”

Barrett Pangle knocked in the Tigers’ third goal with about 24 minutes to go in the game, finishing off a touch from Madison Drinkard.

Rebecca Wynne maintained the clean sheet in goal, which is a sight she’s used to seeing.

Auburn has not allowed a goal since March 30 and has not surrendered a goal to an Alabama team since Feb. 20, a span of 11 matches.

“Part of it is our back four is jelling at the right time,” Matthews said. “Our two center backs — Hayden and Kalli — every time they play they get better.

“Especially Hayden (Tuesday). She must have had six or seven huge one-on-ones with a girl six inches taller than her and she won every one of them. That’s crazy.”

Auburn will host Prattville in the second round Saturday for the right to move on to the state semifinals.

“There’s no better way to go in than having to go in through your section rival,” Matthews said. “No better way.”