Auburn Mountainview draws level on last minute equalizer

After longtime head coach Joey West announced he was stepping down from leading the Auburn Mountainview soccer programs, it was clear there would be a different vibe up on the hill.

But with new head coach Jen Barnes stepping in, the Lions are sure to be in a good spot.

“The group of girls that I have, they love each other as a team. It’s deeper than a team. They hang out and do team bonding on their own. They truly care for each other,” Barnes said.

So far in 2025, the Lions are still searching for their first win, but are heading in the right direction. The Lions drew level with Thomas Jefferson High School, 1-1, on Sept. 8 at home in their first league game of the season.

“It’s still early in the season, but it is always fun to have a group that knows how to dig deep just based on their personality. That’s not coached. They just run into the ground until that final whistle,” Barnes said.

The two sides were deadlocked and appeared like a scoreless draw was in the cards, but a late goal from Thomas Jefferson’s Malieta Redmond put the Raiders in prime position to steal three points on the road.

But in just a short while, Barnes has seen her squad show a lot of resilience on the pitch, starting with their last game. The Lions also drew level with Auburn Riverside, a side that is a perennial state tournament team.

The referee controlled the clock and with less than a minute left in the game, Audrey Sanchez took a free kick in the corner. She sent an out-swinging ball and up leaped Sarah Yu, who headed the ball into the back of the net uncontested.

In stoppage time Auburn Mountainview finds an equalizer!
Sarah Yu heads in this perfect ball from Audrey Sanchez.
1-1 pic.twitter.com/4GuDot4kP6
— Ben Ray (@bigplaybenray) September 9, 2025

“I pulled them together and said, ‘We either get this or we don’t, it’s up to you guys.’ They decided they wanted it and that’s all I can ask for. It was a beautiful game. It was evenly matched the whole game,” Barnes said.

Leveling the game was a sigh of relief for the Lions as they finally were able to crack the code and do so with a freshman scoring the tying goal.

“It was so exciting, especially because it was our one freshman’s goal. It was amazing,” senior forward Lucia Ramey said.

The goal was a culmination of the quality of play the Lions came out of the locker room with in the second half. For the majority of the first half, Thomas Jefferson dominated possession and the chances with just a few Auburn Mountainview opportunities mixed in.

“They came into the locker room a little defeated and a little down. We asked them, ‘Do you want to end the game like this?’ We made little changes, and told them if they want it, they can get it,” Barnes said.

But out of the second half, the Lions had a different energy about them and helped them create a significantly higher amount of threatening chances on the Thomas Jefferson end of the field.

The Yu goal was on the final kick of the game and as a freshman, Yu is making a difference on the field for the Lions early in her career.

“She’s one of the craftiest players I have had the privilege of coaching and she’s fun. She’s got a real high soccer IQ and for only being a freshman, I am so excited for what she has to offer. Her header game is crazy. We have seen some crazy things in practice. I am just excited,” Barnes said.

Still in search of their first win, the Lions have a lot to be excited about in the near future. The Lions headed to French Field and take on Kent-Meridian for their next fixture on Sept. 10 (after press time).

“I think the last goal was very motivating. Especially with how we started playing in that second half, I think if we start the full game like that we can do so much more,” Ramey said.