Waesch, Richards recognized by Top Drawer Soccer

AUBURN, Ala. – Sophomore midfielder Hannah Waesch and junior forward Sydney Richards have been recognized by Top Drawer Soccer following their performances against UAB and Chattanooga last week. Waesch was named to the Team of the Week, and Richards was an honorable mention honoree.
 
It marks the third time through three weeks of the season Top Drawer Soccer has recognized an Auburn player.
 
Waesch continued to play the role of unsung hero for the Tigers as she played all but 12 minutes in the team's two wins against the Blazers and Mocs, leading Auburn to the longest winning streak in program history at 10 straight dating back to last spring.
 
A holding midfielder, The Colony, Texas native not only played a role intercepting passes on the defensive side of the field, but also helped link the Tigers offensive attack that resulted in seven goals in the two contests. The week culminated with Waesch playing a pivotal role in holding Chattanooga shotless in the team's first shutout of the season Sunday. The contest marked the 13th straight dating back to last season Waesch and the Tigers have surrendered one or fewer goals.
 
Richards got on the scoresheet for the first time this season with her second career brace, including the game winner, in Thursday's win against UAB.
 
After the Tigers surrendered the lead in the first minute of the second half, the junior forward answered 16 seconds later with the go-ahead and eventual game winning goal. She spun off her defender and fired a right-footed rifle into the far upper 90 to put the Tigers ahead for good. Just more than 10 minutes later, Richards extended the lead for the Tigers, this time with the left foot, en route to the team's highest offensive output of the season.
 
Although she didn't make her way onto the scoresheet against Chattanooga, Richards again made a big impact in the game-winning goal as she came out of halftime and immediately won a corner kick that resulted in teammate Anna Haddock's game winner.
 
Waesch, Richards and the rest of the Tigers cap off a five-match homestand with two games next week, starting with Alabama A&M Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex.