Smith Takes Home ACC Defensive POTW Honor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina field hockey senior defender Kelly Smith has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Smith has been phenomenal all season for the Tar Heels, but really brought her best to help the team secure two 4-0 wins over top-10 opponents over the weekend. It is the first weekly conference award she has earned in her career, coming in her final regular season week.

Against No. 4 Virginia on Friday night, Smith was instrumental in helping the Heels secure their eighth shutout of the season without goalkeeper Abigail Taylor even having to make a save. The Carolina backline only allowed three shots to the Cavaliers, all of which were blocked by Smith and company. She also picked up an assist on a Charly Bruder corner strike that gave Carolina its second goal of the game.

Then, on her senior day against No. 9 Boston College, Smith took her contributions to a whole other level. With the game still scoreless as time expired in the first quarter, Smith redirected a shot from Jasmina Smolenaars through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net. It was Smith's first career goal in her 72^nd game on only her third career shot.

In addition to the goal, she was rock solid in the back line. In the third quarter, she denied a sure goal by getting her stick in the way right on the goal line for a defensive save.

The Tar Heels will look to wrap up their regular season in style on Friday night in Durham against Duke. The game will start at 6:00 p.m. ET with coverage live on the ACC Network.

ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 3 – Charly Bruder, North Carolina
Sept. 10 – Suze Leemans, Virginia
Sept. 17 – Yani Zhong, Boston College
Sept. 24 – Ryleigh Heck, North Carolina
Oct. 1 – Mia Abello, Virginia
Oct. 8 – Charly Bruder, North Carolina
Oct. 15 – Madelieve Drion, Boston College
Oct. 22 – Charly Bruder, North Carolina
Oct. 29 - Liz Klompmaker, Cal

ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 3 – Grace Pottebaum, North Carolina
Sept. 10 – Tyler Kennedy, Virginia
Sept. 17 – Vera Hekkenberg, Syracuse
Sept. 24 – Abigail Taylor, North Carolina
Oct. 1 – Charley Kramer, Boston College; Louise Pert, Syracuse
Oct. 8 – Frederique Wollaert, Duke
Oct. 15 – Charley Kramer, Boston College
Oct. 22 – Emily Field, Virginia
Oct. 29 - Kelly Smith, North Carolina

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Charly Bruder

Ryleigh Heck

Grace Pottebaum

Kelly Smith

Jasmina Smolenaars

Abigail Taylor

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