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AUBURN, Ala. - Despite the postgame fireworks, the back line stole the show for the 20th-ranked Auburn soccer team in a 1-0 victory against Missouri on Friday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.The Tigers (8-4-0, 4-1-0 SEC) have gotten off to their best start in conference play since 2007 by taking 12 points through five matches against league foes.Karli Gutsche scored the lone goal in Auburns fifth shutout of the season from a corner that was sent in by Brooke Ramsier. Casie Ramsier and Taylor Troutman each paced the team with three shots on the night.Im really pleased with how we played, said head coach Karen Hoppa. I thought we fought hard all game and didnt think our soccer was great in the first half, but in the second half we played some really good, quality soccer. We obviously got a great goal off a corner, had some chances besides that and then the girls did a great job of closing out the game against a really quality Missouri team.Sarah Le Beau went the distance between the posts and made four saves. The defense of Kiana Clarke, Samantha Solaru, Gutsche and Troutman held a Missouri (8-4-0, 3-2-0) offensive unit that racked up seven goals in its previous three matches scoreless for just the third time all season.We made mistakes, but as long as we had each others back, we were fine, stated Clarke.Both teams were held without a goal in the opening 45 minutes of play. Missouri held a shot advantage of 7-5 and had taken three corners, but Auburns defense was able to hold strong and keep the road team off the scoresheet.In the second half, the orange and blue Tigers worked their way down the field and earned a corner in the 64th minute. Brooke Ramsier then sent a ball into the box and found Gutsche who buried it into the back of the net for her first career goal.It was a great build-up to get us down [in the attacking third], said Gutsche. Brooke [Ramsier] hit a great ball in from the corner and I just saw the ball and went for it. When it finally hit the back of the net, I was so excited.Missouri made one final push in the final 10 minutes of play, but the score remained unchanged and sent Auburn to its third consecutive victory.I thought our [defensive] backs were outstanding, said Hoppa. Sarah [Le Beau] did a great job cleaning up everything behind them and it was led by a tremendous performance by our center backs. Karli Gutsche and Kiana Clarke were outstanding all game.Auburn returns to the road for its next match when it travels to Lexington, Ky. for a conference duel with Kentucky. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Robby Anderson Womens Jersey . 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Focus hasnt always been Bubba Watsons forte, but he showed up this week in Cromwell, Conn., for more than a ceremonial defense of his Travelers Championship title.The worlds sixth-ranked golfer is the highest-ranked player in the field this week, and he will hop on a plane to Rio de Janeiro after his final round to represent the United States in the Olympics. But if Watson wants a breather before the grueling FedExCup playoffs that begin Aug. 25 and the Ryder Cup Sept. 30-Oct. 2, he must focus on the task at hand this week.Watson enters the Travelers ranked ninth in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, one spot outside of the eight automatic spots for captain Davis Love IIIs team. He acknowledged that he might add the Wyndham Championship on Aug. 18-21 to his schedule if he doesnt play well this week.Watson doesnt typically play the final tournament before the playoffs, but with the John Deere Classic taking place during the Olympics, the Travelers presents Watson with his best opportunity to improve his Ryder Cup position and guarantee himself some time off.My thoughts are, play good here, Watson said. I dont want to go off a (captains) pick. Ill take a pick all day long, but its better to set yourself on that team than to rely on a pick.Watson shot four rounds in the 60s and beat Englands Paul Casey in a playoff to win the Travelers Championship for the second time last year, earning a $1.152 million paycheck and 500 FedExCup points. He overpowered the TPC River Highlands course en route to a 16-under 264 during regulation, but Watson will tackle a track that has undergone some significant changes since last summer.Established in 1928, the TPC River Highlands has been one of the most popular stops on the PGA Tour since 1984. It gives up a lot of birdies and the scoring is traditionally low, but this years tournament features new sight lines around the closing stretch. That begins with the par-4 15th, which will play just under 300 yards from almost every hole location. The tee box was raised, five bunkers were removed, including three to open the view of the water back-left of the green, and the putting surface was reshaped to open locations closer to the water.What they did on 15 was fairly subtle, said Peter Malnati, who has a win and three top-10s this season..ddddddddddddBut its still going to make a big difference.The 16th and 17th holes also underwent subtle changes to open up sight lines, and around 60 bunkers were removed or moved into more strategic places to tighten up the course. The intention was to force players to be more strategic off the tee.(The 15th is) a neat hole, its a great amphitheater area there, too, with 15, 16 and 17 and that whole vicinity, said 2006 Travelers champion and Fairfield, Conn. native J.J. Henry. In my opinion, in growing up here and going here as a kid and stuff, its probably one of the best spots, if you will, to watch golf on the PGA Tour kind of around that three-hole stretch.Also in the field this week for the $6.6 million purse ($1.188 million winners share) are two of Watsons U.S. Olympic teammates, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar.Reed has a pair of runner-up finishes this week, but missed the cut at the Travelers last year. Kuchar did not play the event in 2015. Reed and Kuchar also have Ryder Cup positioning on their minds as ironically, along with Fowler the four Olympic teammates sit 9-12 in the U.S. team rankings.Reed received his Olympic team gear and golf bag this week, and debuted it during practice.Im obviously very excited to play for the Olympics, if you couldnt tell, I mean Im in red, white and blue today, and Im actually debuting the Olympics bag today, Reed said Tuesday. I thought it would be great for the fans to see. Its the only time theyll actually be able to see it is on TV at the Olympics, so I was proud to be able to bring it out and wear the colors proud this week.Denmarks Soren Kjeldsen, Germanys Alex Cejka and Irelands Padraig Harrington are the other three Olympians in field this week.So while the rest of the world prepares for the opening to the Rio Games on Friday, there is a lot on the line for many of the marquee names in the field this week. Watson figures to be very high on Love IIIs captains pick even if he doesnt play well this week or overtake Brandt Snedeker for the eighth automatic spot, but he has another way to put a feather on his Ryder Cup resume.I figure a gold medal would help, Watson said with a smile. ' ' '