SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina sophomore keeper Jennifer Lauer has been named the Southern Conference’s women’s soccer player of the week for all matches Sept. 17-23. The award is selected by the league office.

Lauer was flawless in goal on the week as the Catamounts went 1-0-1 to open Southern Conference play. She posted nine saves to go along with a 0.00 goals against average as WCU tied Elon 1-1 on Friday and topped UNCG 1-0 on Sunday.

The Acworth, Ga., native entered Friday’s home match against Elon with the Catamounts trailing 1-0 in the 21st minute. Lauer made two second-half saves and Western Carolina netted the match-tying goal in the 76th minute to send the game to overtime. Lauer made another save in the first extra period as WCU and Elon played to the 1-1 draw and she earned her first career decision. Lauer worked nearly the equivalent of a full regulation game, logging a scoreless 89 minutes, 37 seconds in the net.

Lauer was rewarded with her first career start two days later at UNCG and didn’t disappoint. She made six saves on the day, facing nine shots from the Spartans in picking up her first career win and shutout.

The weekly award is the first of Lauer’s career.

Western Carolina (5-4-1, 1-0-1 SoCon) returns to action on Friday when it hosts Davidson (3-5-2, 1-1-0 SoCon) in Cullowhee, N.C., at 7 p.m.

Also nominated: Samantha Childress (Appalachian State), Michaela Hermann (College of Charleston), Vanessa Aponte (The Citadel), Dani Johnson (Davidson), Stephanie DeVita (Furman), Nora El-Shami (Georgia Southern), Tinna Bergthorsdottir (UNCG) and Lindsey Hansen (Samford).


2012 SoCon Women’s Soccer Players of the Week
Aug. 21    Jamie Simmons, UNCG
Aug. 28    Chesney White, UNCG
Sept. 4    Katie Merson, Georgia Southern
Sept. 11    Kaley Blanton, Samford
Sept. 18    Julia Holz, Appalachian State
Sept. 25    Jennifer Lauer, Western Carolina
-www.SoConSports.com-