Special to the News

07/27 at 10:37 PM

With the start of fall practice rapidly approaching, the Auburn soccer team will begin its preparations for the 2010 season Aug. 4, as it gears up for one of the more challenging schedules in recent history.

With a lineup of matches that takes the team to Wisconsin and California and brings 2009 NCAA Women’s College quarterfinalist Florida State to the Auburn Soccer Complex along with the always tough Southeastern Conference slate, Auburn is positioning itself for another postseason appearance come November.

“The SEC is one of the best conferences in the country, and like every year, will provide a battle any time we take the field,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. “Our non-conference schedule is made to prepare us for the grind of the SEC as well as postseason play.”

The competition portion of the 2010 season gets underway Aug. 20 when Tennessee Tech comes to Auburn. The following weekend Auburn will head to Milwaukee, Wis., where it will battle Marquette (Aug. 27) and UW-Milwaukee (Aug. 29) to close out the month.

Auburn returns home Sept. 3 for a match with regional foe Florida State and follows that with a Sept. 5 meeting with Western Carolina before heading west for a weekend tournament at Southern Cal where it will face the host Women of Troy and Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 10 and 12, respectively.

“Florida State is extremely well coached, have great quality in their team and will be prepared. The last time we played FSU at home (2008) was a 1-0 loss for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16. We had a fantastic crowd that day and expect an even better one this year. We will be prepared through the necessary work, but the energy given from the home crowd is undeniable. Hopefully, it will help us change the result,” Hoppa said. “The west coast teams are very good, and this year’s trip will provide us an opportunity to test ourselves against two of the best.
It challenges our staff to prepare the team not only for their opponents, but how to manage the cross-country travel.”

A Sept. 17 home match closes out the non-conference schedule and leads into the SEC schedule, where Auburn will be trying to win a seventh SEC West title under Hoppa’s direction. Auburn will play four of its five divisional opponents in the first two weekends, hosting Mississippi State (Sept. 24) and Ole Miss (Sept. 26) and then traveling to Arkansas (Oct. 1) and three-time defending SEC West champion LSU (Oct. 3).

Auburn returns home to face last season’s top two teams out of the SEC East in South Carolina (Oct. 8) and Florida (Oct. 10), before heading to Vanderbilt (Oct. 15) and Kentucky (Oct. 17).

The final two weeks of the season has Tennessee visiting Auburn (Oct. 21) and Auburn traveling to Georgia (Oct. 24), before wrapping the regular season up with the annual Iron Bowl of Soccer matchup against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 29.

Once again the SEC Tournament will be held at the Orange Beach Soccer Complex in Orange Beach, and begins on Nov. 3.

Auburn has been selected to play on television four times this season, appearing on ESPNU in matches with Ole Miss and Florida, playing on COXTV at LSU and then on Fox Sports at Georgia.

“Any time we get to play on television once is great, let alone four times. Television games are fantastic for women’s soccer, the SEC, Auburn University, and Auburn soccer. Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia, and LSU are historically great games that will be entertaining to watch. Auburn fans everywhere get a chance to learn a little about Auburn and see us play, plus the team gets excited too,” Hoppa said.

Barber wins U.S. Amateur qualifier
Rising Auburn sophomore Blayne Barber advanced to the 2010 U.S. Amateur after claiming medalist honors Tuesday at the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The Lake City, Fla., native shot 7-under through 36-holes for a three-stroke win over North Florida’s Sean Dale (140). Currently ranked 25th in the Scratch Players World Amateur Golf Rankings, Barber returns to the U.S. Amateur after competing in the 2008 edition.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well all summer and that my game is coming together,” said Barber. “These two rounds were real smooth — nothing crazy. Just solid golf. Today, I started out with three birdies after the first three holes which allowed me to settle in quickly. It was a comfortable round.

“My goal over the next two years is to make the Walker Cup. I’ve been trying to play all the big events I can. Making it to the U.S. Amateur is a big help in reaching that goal. I’m incredibly excited to have qualified.”

Barber redshirted the 2009-10 season after transferring from the University of Central Florida, was named to the 2008-09 Five-Man GCAA All-Freshman team and was a three-time Conference USA Golfer-of-the-Week.

Earning alternate status from the Wheaton, Ill., qualifier were incoming freshman Dan Stringfellow and rising junior Kyle Kopsick. The pair tied for fifth at 1-under.

Also earning alternate status from the Orlando, Fla., sectional was incoming transfer Michael Hebert at 1-under.

The 2010 U.S. Amateur is set for August 23-29 at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in Tacoma, Wash. Complete U.S. Amateur information and qualifying results can be found at http://www.USGA.com.

3 volleyball matches to be televised
The Auburn volleyball team will make three televised appearances during the 2010 season, including two matches being aired from the Student Activities Center.

“This is a big step for the Auburn volleyball program and we’re happy to be able to host televised matches here at Auburn,” head coach Wade Benson said. “I feel we’re going to have a very strong team and that they deserve this kind of attention. We hope for more televised opportunities in the future.”

Auburn will make its first-ever appearance on the ESPN family networks Wednesday, Oct. 6 when Georgia comes to the Student Activities Center. The match will be broadcast by ESPNU and is set to air at 7 p.m. The match marks the first home televised match for Auburn since 2006.

The team’s next televised match will be Sunday, Oct. 31 as the Tigers travel to Kentucky. Fox Sports Network will broadcast the noon contest between Auburn and the Wildcats.

The Tigers’ final televised match is set for Sunday, Nov. 7 on CSS (Comcast) as the Florida Gators come to Auburn for a 1 p.m. match.

Auburn opens the regular season by hosting the War Eagle Invitational, Aug. 27-28, at the Student Activities Center. The Tigers face Georgia Southern, Troy and UT Martin during the two-day tournament.