Auburn soccer’s leading scorer, All-SEC First team selection transfers to UCF

AUBURN – Tatiana Coleman, Auburn soccer’s leading scorer and an All-SEC First team selection this season, has transferred to Central Florida, officials with both schools confirmed to the Advertiser. Coleman, a native of Boca Raton, Fla., will be eligible to play for UCF in 2013.

“I enjoyed my time at Auburn not only as an athlete, but as a student, as well. I’m thankful for the opportunity I had there,” Coleman said in a statement to the Advertiser. “I’m happy to be back in Florida and really excited to be at UCF. I really love how welcoming the team was and they’ve been very helpful. I really want to win a national championship with this team, and there’s so much talent here that I don’t see why we couldn’t.”

Coleman, a sophomore, finished the year leading Auburn in points (27), goals (9), assists (9), shots (71), shots on goal (38) and game-winning goals (4). In her two-year career with the Tigers, she had 16 goals and 17 assists for 49 points, took 127 shots with 71 on goal.

“We are happy to have an athletic, goal-scoring threat like Tatiana join us,” UCF coach Amanda Cromwell said in a statement. “She will complement the attacking players and help make up for the seniors that we lost. We have high expectations for 2013 as we transition to the Big East and continue toward our goal of the College Cup. We’re excited to have Tatiana along for the journey.”

An SEC All-Freshman selection in 2011, Coleman scored seven of her nine goals against league competition, tied for second in the league, and had five assists in league play to give her a league-best 19 points.

“Tatiana has chosen to pursue her soccer career somewhere else. We wish her the best of luck at her new school,” Auburn coach Karen Hoppa said in a statement.

Coleman scored two goals, including the game-winner with 32 seconds left in the second overtime period, and added an assist against Alabama to give Auburn a 4-3 victory in the Iron Bowl soccer.

“When you get your last look in the game with 32 seconds left, that’s the kid you want on the ball. Tatiana Coleman is a goal-scorer,” Hoppa said following the win over Alabama on Oct. 25.

Auburn finished 13-11-1, was the SEC Tournament runner-up and was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by BYU, a game Coleman did not play in.

UCF was also eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, finishing the 2012 season 17-5-2 and won the Conference USA Tournament.

Auburn was undefeated this year (8-0-0) in games in which Coleman scored a goal and 11-2-0 when she recorded a point. In her two-year career (42 matches), Auburn went 13-0-0 when she scored a goal, 20-3-0 when she recorded a point and 8-9-2 when she is held off the stat sheet.

Coleman missed seven matches at Auburn and the Tigers went 1-5-1 when she did not play, with the win at Washington in this year’s NCAA Tournament First Round being the team’s first without her.