GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia Tech senior forward Jacob Labovitz claimed ACC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Duke senior goalkeeper Eliot Hamill earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week laurels for the second time in the last three weeks.
A native of Great Falls, Virginia, Labovitz scored both of Virginia Tech’s goals, including the golden goal in double overtime, in the Hokies’ 2-1 triumph over rival Virginia on Friday evening. It was Labovitz’s second game-winning goal of the season, and the game winner Friday came in the 108th minute. The win was the Hokies’ fourth all-time victory against Virginia, including its second in the last two seasons. It also marked Virginia Tech’s first win in Blacksburg against its in-state rival since 2005.
Hamill made six saves Sunday in the Blue Devils’ 3-0 win at North Carolina, marking his second consecutive shutout and fourth in five starts this season. The Scarsdale, New York, native stood strong throughout, maintaining the clean sheet despite UNC’s pressure and 17 shots in the contest. The Sunday victory marked the first time the Blue Devils defeated the Tar Heels by multiple goals since a 4-0 win on Nov. 12, 1999. Behind Hamill, the Blue Devils have now won their first five games via shutout for the first time since 2004. He ranks second in the nation and first in the ACC in save percentage (.957) and fourth in the nation in shutouts (four).
Wake Forest kicked off the ACC men’s soccer schedule for this week Monday night with a 1-0 victory at George Mason. Seven non-conference matches are scheduled for Tuesday evening, including Notre Dame traveling to Michigan for a 7 p.m. match on ESPNU. There are three conference matches scheduled for Friday as well as three more on Saturday, including North Carolina at Virginia, which is slated for 4 p.m. Saturday on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks, and No. 2 Clemson entertaining No. 15 Pitt at 7 p.m. Saturday in a rematch of the 2020 ACC Championship Game.
Five ACC teams are ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll: Clemson (2), Duke (6), Virginia Tech (12), Pitt (15) and Louisville (25).
2021 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31 – Veljko Petkovic, Jr., M, Pitt
Sept. 7 – Stefan Sigurdarson, Jr., F, Boston College
Sept. 14 – Deandre Kerr, So., F, Syracuse
Sept. 21 – Jacob Labovitz, Sr., F, Virginia Tech
2021 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31 – George Marks, Sr., GK, Clemson
Sept. 7 – Eliot Hamill, Sr., GK, Duke
Sept. 14 – George Marks, Sr., GK, Clemson
Sept. 21 – Eliot Hamill, Sr., GK, Duke