The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) honored Piedmont College women's soccer player Cassidy Reich as its Division III National Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Reich is the first Piedmont player so honored in the program's NCAA era.
Reich becomes the first Lady Lion to earn the honor in the program's NCAA Era which began with the 2003 season. The youngster from Largo, Florida scored all five of Piedmont's goals in two wins last week, a 3-0 victory over Ferrum College on Friday and a 2-0 win over Greensboro College on Saturday.
For Reich, the hat-trick on Friday was the second of her debut season and helped her take USA South Rookie of the Week honors for the sixth time in the eight weeks the conference has awarded weekly honors. Reich was also named the league's Player of the Week marking the second time she took both Rookie and Player of the Week honors in the same week this season.
The conference leader in goals with 19 on the season, Reich also tops the league in assists with 12 giving her 50 total points on the year, all three of which are USA South bests.
With her fifth goal of last week giving her 50 total points on the season, Reich became one of just three players in the program's NCAA Era to tallying at least 50 points in a single season joining Marcy Grulke and Katie Porter with Porter having done so twice in her career. Reich's points, goals, and assists marks are also now the best by a Piedmont freshman since Katie Porter in 2006 who tallied 31 goals on the way to All-American honors.
Reich and the Lady Lions will be back in action this coming Saturday when the team hosts a quarterfinal in the USA South Championship Tournament. The contest will take place at 2:30 pm on Saturday, October 31 with the opponent determined after the league's final regular season games on Wednesday evening.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/10/345584/lady-lions-reich-named-nscaa-national-player-of-the-week