With nonconference play coming to an end for Division I, the skills and standings of all 16 SEC teams are finally becoming clearer. Auburn and Kentucky will head into SEC play undefeated, while Florida and Missouri still have work to do to prove themselves. Tennessee and Vanderbilt both had strong showings last week and are beginning to look like real contenders. With SEC women’s soccer set to start on Thursday, The Hustler ranks the standings of the conference’s teams as they get ready to play each other.
1. Auburn (8-0-0)
With two incredible scores and perfect teamwork on the defensive side, No. 6 Auburn defeated Old Dominion last Thursday and earned its eighth consecutive win. The Tigers created 13 opportunities and placed seven of them on frame in this match while limiting the Monarchs to only six attempts on goal. This success mirrors Auburn’s performance on both sides of the pitch this entire season: in their last eight games, the Tigers have stayed unbeaten thanks to an impressive 30 goals scored and 0 goals conceded. Auburn will face its first challenge of the season as it takes on Vanderbilt on Thursday, another unbeaten team through nonconference play. The matchup will offer a real glimpse into whether or not the Tigers can sustain their perfect record.
2. Arkansas (5-0-1)
No. 3 Arkansas continued its impressive season with a 4-2 victory over BYU on Saturday, extending its unbeaten record to six matches. The Razorbacks have showcased their immense offensive firepower throughout 2024, outscoring opponents 35-5 this season. Freshman forward Anaiyah Robinson flashed tons of potential with a two-goal performance, but she hasn’t been the only bright spot. Graduate forward Kate Doyle opened the scoring last weekend — her sixth consecutive match with a goal — bringing her season total to 7 goals and 17 points. This is the highest mark in the SEC. Arkansas took over the match behind 19 shots (12 on target) and an impressive six saves from freshman goalkeeper Keegan Smith. The team’s depth is notable, with 17 players contributing goals this season, including 11 from the bench. As the Razorbacks prepare for their SEC opener against LSU on Sept. 19, they will look to continue spreading their attacking points around.
3. Texas (7-0-1)
No. 11 Texas continued its dream start to the 2024 season with a 3-0 victory over Houston Christian on Thursday night. Defender Lauren Lapomarda contributed a three-point performance, recording a goal and an assist. The Longhorns created a bevy of scoring opportunities, finishing the match with 15 shots, 8 of which were on target. Lexi Missimo opened the scoring with her seventh goal of the season, and Holly Ward’s goal — assisted by Lapomarda — further highlighted Texas’s effective offensive coordination. Defensively, the Longhorns limited Houston Christian to just four shots as goalkeeper Savannah Madden maintained a clean sheet. With an undefeated nonconference record of 8-0-1, Texas will enter SEC play with lots of momentum. As they prepare to face tougher competition in the coming weeks — including their first conference match against Mississippi State on Sept. 22 — the Longhorns will need to sustain their attacking line while tightening their defense.
4. Kentucky (8-0-0)
The No. 20 Wildcats closed out nonconference play by beating Kent State 3-1 and with an undefeated record (8-0-0). Kentucky is still one of the best defensive teams in the country, as Kent State’s only goal of the game was just the second allowed goal by the Wildcats this year. This is the first time in program history that Kentucky has won eight games and lost none through nonconference play. Kentucky managed to outshoot Kent State, 15 to 5, and its three goals in the game prove that its offense is gaining more traction. The Wildcats will take on Florida for their SEC opener on Thursday — a matchup that ended in a tie during the 2023 season. With an improved offense and a strong defense, Kentucky will be a tough match for any team when conference play begins.
5. Alabama (7-2-0)
Alabama continued to show out as it added another win on Friday with a 4-0 shutout against Louisiana Tech. The Crimson Tide dominated on offense, outshooting the Bulldogs 40-to-2. Junior Gianna Paul continues to lead the team offensively, and her seventh goal of the season — the first of the team’s four on Friday — furthered that idea. Paul is not the only offensive threat, as Medina Rebimbas, Madeline Padelski and Nadya Swan each scored a goal en route to the victory as well. It’s safe to say that the Crimson Tide are going to be an offensive force in conference play, and they will hit the road for their SEC Opener against Texas on Sept. 19.
6. Vanderbilt (5-0-2)
The Commodores maintained their undefeated streak with a dominant 7-0 victory against Eastern Kentucky on Thursday. Within the first 13 seconds of the match, Rachel Deresky scored the fastest goal in Vanderbilt’s history. She scored for a second time later on, securing a brace and bringing her total goals for the season to four. The Commodores’ seven goals over the Colonels are the most they’ve scored in a game since 2019 against Georgia State. This is Vanderbilt’s sixth shutout of the season and marks the third consecutive year it has gone undefeated in its nonconference play. All in all, the Black and Gold look strong as they head into conference play, but they have yet to prove themselves against tough competition. Their matchup against Auburn should offer insight into how the ‘Dores will operate under pressure.
7. Oklahoma (7-1-0)
Oklahoma has made a notable mark in its first SEC season with a 7-1-0 record, underscored by a five-game winning streak and a 2-1 victory over Tulsa on Sept. 15. The Sooners have shown their strength with an early scoring blitz, including key goals from Sophia Green and Ella Pappas. Oklahoma has also maintained strong defense, limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities to just five goals allowed. Green’s goal-scoring and Pappas’s contributions underscore a well-organized offensive attack. The Sooners could establish themselves as a dominant force within the conference if they can carry forward their current attacking power with more solid defense performances.
8. Mississippi State (6-1-0)
No. 24 Mississippi State beat Abilene Christian 5-0 on Thursday night, closing its nonconference slate with a 6-1-0 record. The Bulldogs’ attacking line was relentless all game, showcasing their offensive power thanks to goals from five different players. Defensively, Mississippi State was also solid, securing its sixth shutout of the season and limiting ACU to only six shots on goal. Looking ahead, Mississippi State will face a significant test as it takes on conference newcomer Oklahoma on Sept. 19. This upcoming match is crucial for the Bulldogs as they seek to maintain their strong form and adapt to the challenges of conference competition.
9. Tennessee (5-1-2)
Tennessee beat No. 5 Memphis 1-0 after midfielder Mac Midgley scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 48th minute — she was later named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. The victory marked Tennessee’s sixth clean sheet of the season, and junior goalkeeper Ally Zazzara took home SEC Defensive Player of the Week for her stellar performance. Although Tennessee is only averaging 1.3 goals per game, this recent victory should propel it into Thursday’s game against Ole Miss with high spirits.
10. Texas A&M (5-2-0)
Texas A&M suffered a 6-0 loss against UConn in its last out-of-conference match — the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Huskies were proactive from the start, taking two consecutive shots in the second minute of the game. The Aggies had some opportunities to score but couldn’t convert as junior forward Kylee Simmon’s header hit the crossbar in the seventh minute. Looking forward to its next match against Missouri, Texas A&M will have to focus on better midfield control and set-piece defense to hold up against a strong Tiger offense.
11. LSU (5-2-1)
Although LSU ended its nonconference play with a loss to UC Davis, its record is still 5-2. UC Davis captured the game in the last 10 minutes of the tense matchup, scoring two goals to come from behind and win 4-3. Back-and-forth possessions and multiple lead changes characterized the match. Despite the loss, LSU showcased its offensive capabilities, something that it will need to replicate in a tough matchup with Arkansas on Sept. 19th.
12. South Carolina (3-0-4)
South Carolina dominated in its last nonconference game, beating Georgia State 6-0. One of the standout performances was a “Cat-Trick,” the first career hat-trick by forward Catherine Barry. Brianna Behm also scored a goal for the Gamecocks domination over the Panthers. This victory continues South Carolina’s undefeated start to the season, with three wins and four draws. The Gamecocks hope to carry this strong momentum with them as they face Georgia on Sept. 19th.
13. Georgia (4-2-2)
In a battle of the Bulldogs on Thursday, Georgia managed to eke past Samford, 2-0. This was a much needed win, as the Bulldogs’ season has gotten off to an uninspiring start. The game showed their revived offense, with two goals scored by forward Tori Penn while forward Margie Detrizo earned an assist. The Bulldogs’ defense also showed what they are capable of, as goalkeeper Jordan Brown secured her 16th career shutout during Sunday’s game. Daisia Torbert cemented the upward trend for Georgia’s offense as she earned her first career brace and helped the Bulldogs beat Washington State 4-1 earlier in the week. Georgia will now stay at home to face South Carolina on Sept. 19.
14. Ole Miss (5-4-0)
Although the Rebels have had an off-and-on season so far, they secured a 1-0 win last Thursday against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The single goal in this game, scored by senior Aubrey Mister in the 19th minute, was enough to grant Ole Miss victory. However, the true star of this game was sophomore goalkeeper Tayler Prigge, whose four stops kept the Golden Eagles scoreless. The Rebels lost 4-1 at the hands of Lipscomb on Sunday, a tough pill to swallow in their last nonconference game. Both the defense and offense can take the blame for this loss, as the Rebels managed to score just once and gave up a hat-trick to Lipscomb’s Kiara Pralle. If Ole Miss wants any chance of beating Tennessee, it will need to revive its defense after Sunday’s loss.
15. Missouri (2-4-1)
Missouri ended its nonconference play with a decisive loss to Duke, 7-0, leaving the Tigers with an overall 2-4 record to begin SEC play. The Blue Devils controlled the game from the start, scoring four goals in the first half and adding three more in the second half. It was a putrid night for the Tigers, but goalkeeper Bella Hollenbach made an excellent diving save in the 21st minute to prevent the eighth Blue Devil goal. While this was not the result it wanted, Missouri will have the chance to right the ship in its first SEC matchup against Texas A&M on Sept.19th.
16. Florida (3-1-4)
The Gators beat Kennesaw State 3-0 last Thursday, but they could not keep up that same momentum against FGCU, ultimately drawing 0-0. Florida managed to maintain its energy up throughout the course of this game, scoring twice before halftime and then again on its first shot of the second half. But overmall the game against FGCU was uninspiring, as the Gators outshot FGCU 16-4 but failed to put any in the back of the net. Florida needs to focus on converting chances if it wants to compete in the SEC, and it will have a chance to do just that as it faces Kentucky on Sept. 19.
