University of North Carolina Athletics
Pottebaum Wins Defensive Player Of The Week Honor
October 14, 2025 | Field Hockey
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North Carolina field hockey defender Grace Pottebaum has been named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.
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The redshirt-junior Pottebaum led the way for a massive conference weekend for the Tar Heels. UNC picked up shutout wins over No. 2 Virginia 1-0 on the road and No. 19 Louisville 3-0 at home thanks to the dominant efforts of Pottebaum and her defensive line.
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On the road in a slugfest against the No. 2 Cavaliers, Pottebaum's defense had no room for error in a game that remained scoreless until the final six minutes. It was the fewest shots on goal (2) that UVA has put up all season and the first time the team had been shutout since the ACC tournament last year.
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Back home against Louisville on Sunday, the Heels' suffocating defense did not surrender a shot until the fourth quarter and neither of the two allowed were on goal. Both shots came from the only two penalty corners of the game for the Cardinals, Pottebaum herself blocked both attempts.
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It's the second weekly honor of the St. Albans, Mo., native's career. She has started each of the last 38 games the Tar Heels have played since November of 2023 and has helped her team to 17 shutouts in that span.
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Pottebaum and company travel north this weekend for games against No. 9 Syracuse and Cornell. They will be home the next two Fridays for matchups with Richmond (Oct. 24) and Duke (Oct. 31).
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The redshirt-junior Pottebaum led the way for a massive conference weekend for the Tar Heels. UNC picked up shutout wins over No. 2 Virginia 1-0 on the road and No. 19 Louisville 3-0 at home thanks to the dominant efforts of Pottebaum and her defensive line.
Â
On the road in a slugfest against the No. 2 Cavaliers, Pottebaum's defense had no room for error in a game that remained scoreless until the final six minutes. It was the fewest shots on goal (2) that UVA has put up all season and the first time the team had been shutout since the ACC tournament last year.
Â
Back home against Louisville on Sunday, the Heels' suffocating defense did not surrender a shot until the fourth quarter and neither of the two allowed were on goal. Both shots came from the only two penalty corners of the game for the Cardinals, Pottebaum herself blocked both attempts.
Â
It's the second weekly honor of the St. Albans, Mo., native's career. She has started each of the last 38 games the Tar Heels have played since November of 2023 and has helped her team to 17 shutouts in that span.
Â
Pottebaum and company travel north this weekend for games against No. 9 Syracuse and Cornell. They will be home the next two Fridays for matchups with Richmond (Oct. 24) and Duke (Oct. 31).
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Players Mentioned
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