Women's Soccer

Pitt’s West, UNC’s Bell Earn ACC Player of the Week Honors

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Pitt freshman forward Amanda West has been named the first Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the 2019 season, while North Carolina freshman defender Maycee Bell has been tabbed ACC Defensive Player of the Week.

West turned in a stellar opening weekend to lead the Panthers to a 2-0 record, scoring four goals with one assist, nine points, 11 shots and two game-winning goals. In her first collegiate game, West had one of the most impressive debuts in program history against Loyola Marymount as she found the back of the net three times. She also tallied an assist and seven points in a 5-4 victory for Pitt.

The hat trick was the 10th in school history and just the second by a Pitt freshman in program history. Her seven-point effort marked the most points scored in a match by a Pitt player in nearly 20 years (2001).

Hailing from Burlington, Ontario, she scored the game-winning goal in the 101st minute to help the Panthers earn the 1-0 double-overtime victory over Bucknell on the road. West finished off the Bucknell win with a career-high six shots, including five on goal. 

In her collegiate debut, Bell was a dominant player on the back line for the North Carolina defense, as the Tar Heels opened their season with a 3-0 win over Indiana, followed by a 2-0 shutout of eighth-ranked Duke in a non-conference matchup.

The Wichita, Kansas, native led a defensive effort that limited Indiana to just one shot in the game. Carolina's defensive prowess continued against Duke, as UNC limited the Blue Devils to just two shots and one corner kick.

Neither Indiana nor Duke had a shot on goal in either game.

ACC Women’s Soccer action resumes on Wednesday evening, as 23rd-ranked Wake Forest hosts No. 13 Santa Clara at 5 p.m. and eighth-ranked Duke welcomes No. 7 Georgetown for a 7 p.m. match. Both contests will air live on ACC Network.