Sept. 19, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - After scoring the game-winning goal against No. 22 Texas A&M, senior defender Hannah Alspach has been named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Team of the Week, it was announced Tuesday.
Playing in an attacking role for the first time in her career last Friday night, Alspach accounted for the Tigers' offense as the team opened SEC play with a 1-0 win against the visiting Aggies. It marked the fifth time Auburn has begun its conference season with a shutout win.
"I'm really proud of Hannah," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "She is a great player for us, and we had been trying her up on the right wing. Hannah has really done a great job and earned that spot. It was nice to see it pay off. She has great ball-striking ability and can shoot really well with both feet. It couldn't have worked out better for us or for her to get that game winner against her home-state team."
Alspach converted on the Tigers' first scoring opportunity of the match as she took a pass from Kristen Dodson at the top of the 18-yard box and hit a left-footed strike just over the mits of an outstretched Texas A&M goalkepper to put the Tigers on the scoreboard just 8:23 into the contest. It was the senior's first goal of the season and third of her Auburn career.
The national recognition for Alspach comes a day after redshirt junior goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Le Beau turned in the 16th shutout of her career against Texas A&M.
The complete TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week can be found here.
The Tigers continue SEC play with a trip to Knoxvillle, Tenn., to take on the Volunteers Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. CT. They return home Sunday, Sept. 24 to host Kentucky at 2 p.m. CT.