AUBURN, Ala. — Five members of the Auburn soccer team have been awarded College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, each earning bids to the succeeding Academic All-America ballot.
Repping the Orange & Blue on this year's list are M.E. Craven, Anna Haddock, Maddie Prohaska, Hannah Waesch and Hailey Whitaker.
"These five players epitomize what it means to be a student-athlete," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "As good as they are on the field, they are even better in the classroom. We could not be more proud of each of them."
In her final season donning the Auburn uniform, Craven started all 18 matches at center back, going the distance in all but three. As a team captain and leader on defense, the graduate student also played a heavy part in the team's 0.72 goals against average, the second-best total in the 30-year history of the program. Craven also proved to be a secret weapon in the Tigers' attack this season as she delivered a pair of goals, both game-winners, versus Army West Point and Kentucky.
Academically, the Alpharetta, Georgia native graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's in psychology and is currently pursuing her master's in mental health counseling while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Craven also received a nod to the Academic All-District team last season.
Starting every match in the midfield for a third-straight season, Haddock also earns a spot on the list after being named a Third Team Academic All-American a year ago. In the classroom, the captain boasts a 4.0 while studying management. In addition to CoSIDA honors, Haddock has also earned academic recognition on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and as a part of the Chi Sigma Alpha Honor Society.
Athletically, the Bowling Green, Kentucky product led the 2022 squad in three offensive categories — assists (6), points (12) and shots on goal (25). Haddock found the back of the net on a trio of occasions, including a 54th-minute game-winner in the season-opener versus Old Dominion.
The third Tiger to make the list is Prohaska. Manning the net in all 18 games of the season, Prohaska conceded just 13 goals and held the opposition to a single goal or less in all but one match. After collecting seven shutouts, the junior stands fifth in program history for career clean sheets with 20.
As a student, Prohaska posts a 3.80 GPA while pursuing a bachelor's in psychology. Like teammate Haddock, the goalkeeper has also earned academic recognitions from the university as well as the conference office.
Earning the fourth bid for the Tigers, Whitaker marks the third team captain to be recognized by College Sports Communicators. Set to graduate with honors this December, Whitaker will earn her degree in integrative biology. The Birmingham, Alabama native was also named an Academic All-District selection in 2021.
On the pitch, Whitaker wrapped up her Auburn career by starting every match at left back and going the full 90 minutes of half of the season's bouts. Defensively, Whitaker was also vital in the team's record-setting defensive prowess in just her second season on the back line. On the offensive end of the ball, she collected a pair of assists against UMass Lowell and Texas A&M and netted a goal of her own versus Southern Miss.
Junior midfielder Hannah Waesch earned the fifth and final All-District honor as yet another player to start every match of the season. Waesch collected three assists in 1,576 minutes of play at holding mid during the 2022 campaign.
Academically, Waesch studied journalism while holding a 3.83 GPA.
The Academic All-District Women's Soccer Team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.50 GPA, have a minimum of one year completed at their current institution and be a starter or key reserve player, athletically.
A complete list of Academic All-District honorees can be found here.