University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Bell Claims ACC Defensive Player Of The Week Honor
September 19, 2023 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Defender Maycee Bell has claimed the fifth Atlantic Coast Conference weekly award this season for North Carolina women's soccer, as the redshirt senior was named the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19.Â
It marks the fourth such honor of Bell's career and first since Sept. 29, 2020.Â
The Tar Heels now own half of the ACC player of the week awards this season, and all but one on the defensive side. Bell joins Savy King (Aug. 22, Sept. 5) and Sam Meza (Aug. 29) who have also earned the defensive honor while Avery Patterson garnered the offensive accolade on Sept. 12.Â
UNC has had five or more ACC players of the week in a single season on two occasions – 2006 (seven) and 2017 (10) – since the league started handing out weekly awards in 1996. However, this is the first time in program history the Tar Heels have had players receive a league honor in consecutive weeks beginning in week one.
The award comes to Bell following No. 2 North Carolina's 1-0 win over Virginia Tech on Sept. 15 for its fifth shutout of the year. The Wichita, Kansas native has been a staple on the Tar Heels' stalwart back line that has only conceded four goals and limits opponents to just 5.7 shots per game.  Â
Described by head coach Anson Dorrance as both a lockdown defender and a playmaker, Bell helped keep the Hokies to only eight shots the entire contest, including holding them shotless during the second half. It was the fourth time Carolina has held an opponent without a shot during a half this season.Â
Largely in part due to Bell's efforts, UNC's defense has held eight of their opponents to 10 shots or fewer and all to 11 or under: No. 10 Penn State (5), Cal (2), Wisconsin (1), No. 24 Southern Cal (5), Gardner-Webb (1), No. 8 Arkansas (10), No. 10 South Carolina (8), No. 12 Alabama (11) and Virginia Tech (8).Â
Also serving as team co-captain, Bell currently ranks second on the team with 748 minutes and has logged a full 90 in seven of nine matches.Â
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
It marks the fourth such honor of Bell's career and first since Sept. 29, 2020.Â
The Tar Heels now own half of the ACC player of the week awards this season, and all but one on the defensive side. Bell joins Savy King (Aug. 22, Sept. 5) and Sam Meza (Aug. 29) who have also earned the defensive honor while Avery Patterson garnered the offensive accolade on Sept. 12.Â
UNC has had five or more ACC players of the week in a single season on two occasions – 2006 (seven) and 2017 (10) – since the league started handing out weekly awards in 1996. However, this is the first time in program history the Tar Heels have had players receive a league honor in consecutive weeks beginning in week one.
The award comes to Bell following No. 2 North Carolina's 1-0 win over Virginia Tech on Sept. 15 for its fifth shutout of the year. The Wichita, Kansas native has been a staple on the Tar Heels' stalwart back line that has only conceded four goals and limits opponents to just 5.7 shots per game.  Â
Described by head coach Anson Dorrance as both a lockdown defender and a playmaker, Bell helped keep the Hokies to only eight shots the entire contest, including holding them shotless during the second half. It was the fourth time Carolina has held an opponent without a shot during a half this season.Â
Largely in part due to Bell's efforts, UNC's defense has held eight of their opponents to 10 shots or fewer and all to 11 or under: No. 10 Penn State (5), Cal (2), Wisconsin (1), No. 24 Southern Cal (5), Gardner-Webb (1), No. 8 Arkansas (10), No. 10 South Carolina (8), No. 12 Alabama (11) and Virginia Tech (8).Â
Also serving as team co-captain, Bell currently ranks second on the team with 748 minutes and has logged a full 90 in seven of nine matches.Â
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
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