BY NOAH GRIFFITH
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN —
Auburn High girls soccer was able to get revenge on Fairhope and advance to its first state championship since 2016, but the Tigers fell to Sparkman, 2-1, denying them of their first ever state title May 13.
The Tigers fought to the end, with a scoring opportunity inside the box with five seconds left in the championship game, but they couldn’t find an answer for Sparkman’s second-half score. Despite answering a Sparkman goal in the 12th minute with an Ellie Hammer shot that hit off the post and turned into a goal by junior Sam Reitz, Auburn was shut out for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, Sparkman converted a penalty kick that turned out to be the game winner.
“First, I just want to say I’m just so proud of them,” said Auburn head coach Bill Ferguson. “They were a true team in every sense. When we had players injured, others stepped up, and that just says a lot about the depth we had and their ability to play for each other and for this community. Excited to see what they can accomplish next year with that confidence they have from going and competing in the big game.”
Despite falling short of a ring, the Tigers finished 14-6 and went undefeated in area play. They defeated Prattville, Dothan and Fairhope, who knocked Auburn out of the playoffs last season, before falling to Sparkman (21-4).
The team displayed its hunger, refusing to be denied in a semifinal 4-0 win over Fairhope. Reitz scored a goal in the first 90 seconds of play, and the Tigers kept their foot on the pedal. According to Ferguson, facing the team who prematurely ended its season in 2022 is just what Auburn needed to go light the team on fire.
“I don’t think you need motivation to play in the Final Four, but when I found out that Fairhope won, I was eager and excited because I knew it would be additional motivation since they beat us last year,” Ferguson explained. “To say that we were ready is an understatement. We came out hot from the whistle. There wasn’t really a chance we were going to lose that game.”
With what Ferguson described as a relatively young team, Auburn capitalized on key contributions from “everyone on the back line,” plus two goals by Reitz, a goal from freshman Camilla Bosman, a goal from sophomore Meredith Martin, a score by seventh-grader Lula Hammer and seven saves from senior Ragan Ellis in its final two games in Huntsville.
Ellis combined with freshman Melissa Smith to pitch a shutout versus Fairhope, giving the Tigers 13 total shutouts on the season. The duo allowed just 11 goals this season in 20 games, and did not allow a goal in region play.
Auburn has a bright path ahead, with five seniors this year who acted as role models to young players. Ferguson mentioned seniors Hannah Arnoll and Caroline Hennessy as players who left their mark on the program. The team now has the experience of a path to the championship as well as a taste of what’s to come.
“This senior class is phenomenal; they’re a massive reason we had the success that we did,” Ferguson raved. “As well as Lula Hammer scored in the semifinals and played every minute of the final. She came up big in a win over Spain Park, then-reigning state champs, and played every minute against Oak Mountain and pretty much took away one of their best defensive players.
“To do that as a seventh-grader is pretty ridiculous. It’s just a testament to her mindset as a young person and her ability to play the game.”
The future is bright, but Ferguson finished by expressing his gratitude for this year’s graduating class. After the state championship, Ferguson said he sent an e-mail to all the parents in the program, expressing how proud he was of the way the team went out with class, even after a loss.
Even if they aren’t remembered as state champions, that character is something that will live on in the program for years to come.
“I think this team’s legacy is teamwork and kindness,” Ferguson said. “This is one of the closest teams I’ve had the opportunity to coach, and they’ve really cheered for each other and shown up for each other. So, I think they did it the right way. They were a team that had class. They continue to show that this program can win it all, and I’m excited for the opportunity we get to bring a blue mat home to Auburn.”