Lynchburg's Mertens Named National Player of the Week

Lynchburg's Mertens Named National Player of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- University of Lynchburg senior forward Caitlin Mertens added to her weekly awards haul as she was named the Division III Women's Player of the Week by the United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday afternoon.

United Soccer Coaches, formerly known as National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), is the largest community of soccer coaches in the world. Each Tuesday during the college regular season, United Soccer Coaches selects a men's and women's Player of the Week for NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and Junior College competition based on nominations from schools and conferences.

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Mertens, from Succasunna, N.J., earned her third straight ODAC weekly honor after posting a 13-point week in the Hornets' 2-0 showing. She opened with three goals in a 5-0 home victory over St. Mary's (Md.) College. She followed with three more tallies to go with an assist in a 6-0 triumph at cross-town conference foe Randolph College. The two hat tricks mark the first back-to-back three-goal efforts for a Lynchburg women's soccer player since Angela Bosco achieved the feat in September 2014.

Mertens currently leads the ODAC in points (24) and goals scored (11). For her career to date, Mertens has racked up 103 points on 45 goals and 13 assists.

For more information on ODAC women's soccer, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.