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Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Player of the Week, Lees-McRae Sophomore Sam Arendt

Sept. 18, 2012. Lees-McRae College sophomore Sam Arendt (Franklinton) has been named the Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Player of the Week for the first time in her career, after leading Lees-McRae to a 2-0 worksheet last week announced league officials Tuesday.

Lees-McRae (3-2-1, 2-0 CC) enjoyed a strong start to its conference schedule last week, keeping a clean sheet in a 5-0 victory over Converse College on Wednesday before defeating North Greenville University by a score of 5-1 on Saturday. Arendt kicked off the week with her first goal of the season against Converse, tapping in a loose ball in the area off a pass from Erica Allen (Norton, Ohio) for the Bobcats’ fourth strike of the evening.

The sophomore forward followed with a career performance on Saturday, notching her first collegiate treble in just 34 minutes of action after coming on as a substitute. Arendt opened her account less than a minute into the second half, chipping a cross from Ally Titsworth (Holmes Beach, Fla.) into the bottom corner to give the Bobcats a 3-0 advantage.

The Franklinton native added her second less than two minutes later, unleashing a driven strike into the upper 90 from 20 yards distance off a centering ball by Titsworth. Arendt capped the treble with a clinical finish in the 79th minute, settling a lovely through ball from Titsworth and slotting it into the bottom corner to complete the hat trick.

“I’m very proud of [Sam] Arendt and her performance this past week,” said head coach Nick Whiting. “She has worked very hard over the summer and since she has been back on campus, and it is clearly paying off for her.”

Lees-McRae returns to the pitch on Saturday when the Bobcats travel to Charlotte to continue their conference slate with a 5 p.m. matchup against Queens University of Charlotte.