Auburn signs seven in elite recruiting class

Auburn signs seven in elite recruiting classAuburn signs seven in elite recruiting class
Wade Rackley

AUBURN, Ala. – Head coach Karen Hoppa and the Auburn soccer program announced its 2019 recruiting class as seven players signed their national letters of intent Wednesday.
 
"We are thrilled to announce the signing of this 2019 class," Hoppa said. "They have the chance to be one of the best ever, and a big reason why is because of the work of associate head coach James Armstrong and assistant coach Ben Madsen. They really put in the extra effort to make this class special, and they deserve the lion's share of the credit for how good this class is."
 
The class, which includes three forwards, two defenders, a midfielder and a goalkeeper, spans much of the United States with two players hailing from Texas and one apiece from Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, New York and South Carolina.
 
"Obviously time will tell, but what they've accomplished in their youth careers is really phenomenal," Hoppa added. "It's a really diverse class. We have depth and talent at every position, and we're really excited to get this group on campus in the fall."
 
The players who will join the Tigers in 2019 are Marissa Arias, Kylie Bechard, Brooke Berdan, Riley Petcosky, Caroline Peterson, Sydney Richards and Maggie Van Thullenar.
 

PlayerPos.HometownClub TeamHigh SchoolTime Signed
Marissa AriasFSan Antonio, TexasClassics EliteLouis D. Brandeis8:38 a.m.
Kylie BechardFColumbus, Ga.Alabama FCHarris County7:07 a.m.
Brooke BerdanDBoulder, Colo.Colorado RushFairview9:05 a.m.
Riley PetcoskyDVestal, N.Y.Lonestar SCCedar Park9:00 a.m.
Caroline PetersonMFMission Hills, Kan.Sporting Blue Valley SC    Pembroke Hill9:13 a.m.
Sydney RichardsF/MFPlano, TexasFC DallasPlano Senior9:30 a.m.
Maggie Van ThullenarGKCharleston, S.C.Carolina EliteWando6:53 a.m.

 
Arias comes to The Plains from San Antonio, Texas, where she had much success at the club level with Classics Elite Soccer Academy. She was invited to the id2 National Identification and Development Program on two different occasions in 2015. The following year, she was invited to the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Training Camp and was one of 15 players named to the id2 National Team.
 
Arias has also been a tremendous goal scorer at the high school level, where she recorded 190 points on 76 goals and 38 assists at Louis D. Brandeis High School, including the single-season record with 34 goals as a sophomore. Arias is three-time First Team All-District honoree and two-time San Antonio Express News Super Team selection. She was named the San Antonio Express News Newcomer of the Year and Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) First Team All-State as a freshman. Additionally, she earned TASCO Second Team All-Region honors as a sophomore.
 
Along with her accomplishments on the field, Arias is a three-time First Team Academic All-District honoree as well as a member of the honor roll and National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Joseph and Maria Arias and has two siblings, Alyssa and Joseph Xavier.
 

 
Another illustrious goal scorer, Bechard has excelled for Alabama FC, where she has totaled 78 goals and 31 assists in three seasons with the club while also serving as the team captain. Berchard has been invited to the ECNL Integrated National Camp and was named an ECNL Weekly Standout for her effort on the pitch. She also earned All-Conference honors.
 
Also a member of the Harris County High School team in Columbus, Georgia, Bechard turned in 288 points on 130 goals and 28 assists during her sophomore and junior seasons. Along with being named a team captain in back-to-back seasons, she is also a two-time 1-AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-Region selection and two-time Bi-City Player of the Year.
 
Bechard is a member of the National Honor Society and received the Georgia Merit Award. She is the daughter of Jerome and Rhonda Bechard and has one sibling, Alex. Her dad, Jerome, is a former professional hockey player, coach and general manager. He played in Canada and the United States from 1985-2007 before transitioning to coaching.
 

 
A prototypical defender, Berdan joins the Tigers from Boulder, Colorado, where she has been a key member of the renowned Colorado Rush of the U.S. Development Academy. Berdan was selected for the U.S. U16 Women's National Team in 2015 and helped lead the Rush to the 2017 North American Cup Championship. She has been invited to multiple id2 National Training Camps dating back to 2014 and was named to the 2015 ODP Region IV Team. Berdan has also been named to the Top Drawer Soccer Top 150 in each of the previous four seasons.
 
Berdan played two seasons at Fairview High School and led the team on the back line while also contributing to the team's attack with 21 points on six goals and nine assists in two years before transitioning to the development academy.
 
Berdan received the American Legion Award for outstanding courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service and has been named a member of the honor roll on multiple occasions. She is the daughter of Scott and Kris Berdan and has one sibling, Blake.
 

 
The second of two defenders in the 2019 class, Petcosky comes to Auburn from Cedar Park, Texas, where she plays for Lonestar SC of the U.S. Development Academy. A multi-talented player, Petcosky takes free kicks and corner kicks for the club team and was named co-captain this season. She also competed in the Premier League and ECNL the previous two seasons.
 
Originally from Vestal, New York, Petcosky has lived in Texas since 2014 and played two seasons at Cedar Park High School. A left-footed left back, she was named First Team All-District in back-to-back seasons and is also a standout track runner.
 
Petcosky has been on the honor roll every semester of high school and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is the daughter of David and Shannon Petcosky and has four siblings, Aubrey, Halley, Elliot and Ethan.
 

 
Peterson joins the program as a midfielder from Mission Hills, Kansas. A key contributor for Sporting Blue Valley SC of the U.S. Development Academy, Peterson has been named to the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) All-Region and All-State Team. She was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Spring 2019 High School All-America Watch List. 
 
In two seasons at Pembroke Hill School, Peterson totaled 67 goals and set the school record with 34 goals as a sophomore while helping her team to the state championship match. Along with being named First Team All-District, First Team All-Region and First Team All-State, Peterson was also named the All-Region and All-State Offensive Player of the Year on back-to-back occasions. 
 
Off the field, Peterson earned the bronze medal on a national French exam her junior year. She is the daughter of Mark and Jill Peterson and has three siblings, Tyler, Morgan and Brooke.
 

 
Richards has been a standout for FC Dallas during the past three seasons as she has scored 96 goals with 46 assists with the club. She helped lead the team to the 2017 U16 ECNL National Championship by netting the equalizer in the championship match. A year later, Richards finished in the top four in goals in the Frontier Conference of the U.S. Development Academy. She was also invited to the ODP Region III National Training Camp and id2 National Training Camp.
 
The Plano, Texas, native also registered 67 points on 27 goals and 13 assists in two seasons at Plano Senior High School. She was named the MVP of her team in back-to-back seasons and earned 6A Second Team All-District honors as a freshman before being named First Team All-District and the District MVP as a sophomore.
 
Richards is a two-time Academic All-District honoree. She is the daughter of Michael and Susan Richards and has one sibling, Taylor.
 

 
A native of Charleston, S.C., Van Thullenar is a force between the pipes for the Carolina Elite Soccer Association. She played in 14 contests and turned in four shutouts for the club a season ago and also competed for the Charleston Fleet of the Women's Premiere Soccer League last summer.
 
The 5-foot-9 goalkeeper has also competed in 75 career contests at Wando High School and has posted a 58-13-3 career record with 47 shutouts. She hasn't allowed a goals against average higher than 0.64 in three seasons and turned in 154 saves as a sophomore. Van Thullenar is a three-time All-State and All-Region honoree. She helped lead Wando to the 2017 AA State Championship and appeared on SportsCenter Top 10 for scoring in the championship match.
 
Van Thullenar has been named a Warrior Ambassador and a member of the honor roll on multiple occasions. She is the daughter of T.J. and Holly Van Thullenar and has one sibling, Ted.