INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Northern Kentucky University’s Lauren Franzen (Alexandria, Ky.) is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Week. The junior forward helped the Norse sweep the John Toebben Classic presented by National City in Wilder, Ky.

The Norse opened the event with a 2-0 win over Tiffin on Aug. 24. Franzen tallied one shot on goal in the contest but was unable to find the net.

She had little trouble posting goals in Northern Kentucky’s second match of the tournament as the Norse ran away with a 4-0 win over Concord on Aug. 26. Franzen scored three goals and added an assist in the contest to finish with seven points. 

Her first goal, the game-winner, came in the 50th minute on assists from Brand Doss and Cara Alldred. Four minutes later, Franzen added her second goal of the day, again on an assist from Alldred.

She collected her first assist of the year by delivering a pass to Ashley Warndorf and then finished the day less than a minute later by notching her third goal of the contest.

She became the first Norse player to post a hat trick since Oct. 2, 2005 when Catie Walton scored three goals against Bellarmine in a 6-0 victory.

With the outstanding single-game performance, Franzen leads the league in points and goals scored following the first weekend of action.

Northern Kentucky (2-0) will return for its next match at regional-foe Findlay on Aug. 31.

Other top performers in the GLVC last week included: Drury’s Aly Reynolds, Missouri-Rolla’s Rachel Moore, Missouri-St. Louis’ Tara Reitz, Quincy’s Becky Fleming, Rockhurst’s Lisa Schwarz and SIU Edwardsville’s Katie Yearian.