Harding collects more hardware: National Player of the Week!
October 22, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MO - After turning in a tremendous week, the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy's Lauren Harding was named the Defensive Player of the Week by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national office on Tuesday. Harding was selected based on her performance from October 14-20 from a pool of conference/Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)/unaffiliated group nominees. Christiane Sundstrom (Hope International) was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week.
In two games played during the week, Harding turned in a pair of nine save performances leading UHSP to two American Midwest Conference (AMC) wins. The Eutectics took down Stephens College on Tuesday, 3-0 and then rallied to defeat Williams Baptist by a 2-1 score on Saturday. In the home win over the Stars, Harding saw early work making three saves in the opening 12 minutes. After that, she challenged Stephens attackers by making full use of her allotted 18-yards and came off her goal line to break-up potential would-be scoring opportunities. Against Williams Baptist, the Eagles scored the lone goal that got past Harding just :17 seconds into the game. From there, the sophomore netminder was perfect on the day as the Eagles totaled 18 shots in the game, nine more of which were on goal. A number of times, she prevented potential Eagle scoring chances by aggressively coming out to catch the ball off corner kicks before any attacker could make any further play on the ball.
UHSP Head Coach Jack Jamieson discussed what his goalkeeper has been like this year, "Lauren's athleticism and experience as a field player has made her an excellent sweeper/keeper. Normally a forward, Lauren stepped in to play goalie when our keeper was injured. She has tremendous soccer knowledge, and her reaction time is excellent. She is exceptional taking the ball out of the air and anticipates well. She continues to improve and communicates with our backfield play. She has been integral in our teams defensive success, unselfish and is a major team player."
On the season, Harding has a record of 6-3, a goals-against-average of 2.55 and a save percentage of .716. She has now made 42 saves over the last five games combined and her 53 saves on year put her fifth in the AMC this season. Harding has helped the Eutectics to a 6-5 overall record which matches the most wins in program history. UHSP has three games left in the regular season in which to try and set a new single-season record for wins as they still have contests with William Woods, Harris-Stowe and Missouri Baptist still on the docket. The Eutectics sit 3-1 in the AMC which puts them in a second-place tie with William Woods and Missouri Baptist.
Harding becomes just the second-ever Eutectic in women's soccer program history to ever receive national recognition as the Player of the Week. Jordyn Besserman was named Offensive POW in September of 2021. Harding was named the Defensive Player of the Week by the AMC on Monday.
In two games played during the week, Harding turned in a pair of nine save performances leading UHSP to two American Midwest Conference (AMC) wins. The Eutectics took down Stephens College on Tuesday, 3-0 and then rallied to defeat Williams Baptist by a 2-1 score on Saturday. In the home win over the Stars, Harding saw early work making three saves in the opening 12 minutes. After that, she challenged Stephens attackers by making full use of her allotted 18-yards and came off her goal line to break-up potential would-be scoring opportunities. Against Williams Baptist, the Eagles scored the lone goal that got past Harding just :17 seconds into the game. From there, the sophomore netminder was perfect on the day as the Eagles totaled 18 shots in the game, nine more of which were on goal. A number of times, she prevented potential Eagle scoring chances by aggressively coming out to catch the ball off corner kicks before any attacker could make any further play on the ball.
UHSP Head Coach Jack Jamieson discussed what his goalkeeper has been like this year, "Lauren's athleticism and experience as a field player has made her an excellent sweeper/keeper. Normally a forward, Lauren stepped in to play goalie when our keeper was injured. She has tremendous soccer knowledge, and her reaction time is excellent. She is exceptional taking the ball out of the air and anticipates well. She continues to improve and communicates with our backfield play. She has been integral in our teams defensive success, unselfish and is a major team player."
On the season, Harding has a record of 6-3, a goals-against-average of 2.55 and a save percentage of .716. She has now made 42 saves over the last five games combined and her 53 saves on year put her fifth in the AMC this season. Harding has helped the Eutectics to a 6-5 overall record which matches the most wins in program history. UHSP has three games left in the regular season in which to try and set a new single-season record for wins as they still have contests with William Woods, Harris-Stowe and Missouri Baptist still on the docket. The Eutectics sit 3-1 in the AMC which puts them in a second-place tie with William Woods and Missouri Baptist.
Harding becomes just the second-ever Eutectic in women's soccer program history to ever receive national recognition as the Player of the Week. Jordyn Besserman was named Offensive POW in September of 2021. Harding was named the Defensive Player of the Week by the AMC on Monday.