GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Following an upset win Friday at No. 15 North Carolina, Virginia Tech senior forward Kristo Strickler was named ACC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while his teammate, sophomore defender Nathan Durst, earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
In only his third spring appearance because of injury, Strickler scored in the 52nd minute to help lift Virginia Tech to a 1-0 road win over North Carolina. It marked the Hokies’ first win over the Tar Heels since the 2011 season. The Hilliard, Ohio, native recorded his 28th career goal, which is tied for the eighth most in program history
Durst was all over the pitch on Friday against UNC as Virginia Tech recorded its first clean sheet in ACC play this season. The Loudoun, Virginia, native recorded several blocked shots, a chase-down tackle as UNC was moving in on a 2-on-1 on goal and also provided the assist to Strickler’s eventual winning goal.
The ACC spring portion of the regular season wraps up Thursday and Friday. The ACC will determine its automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament next week. The winners of each division of spring play will play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13. The winner of that match will play at Clemson, which won the ACC Championship in the fall, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 on ACC Network. If Clemson wins the Atlantic Division for the spring, the divisional champions game on April 13 will not be played, and the Coastal Division champion then will play at Clemson in the AQ game on April 17.
2020-21 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 21 – Daniel Russo, Fr., F, Notre Dame
Sept. 28 – Bertin Jacquesson, Fr., F, Pitt; Calvin Harris, So., F, Wake Forest
Oct. 5 – Mohamed Seye, So., F, Clemson; Kyle Holcomb, Jr., F, Wake Forest
Oct. 12 – Veljko Petkovic, So., M, Pitt
Oct. 19 – Kimarni Smith, Sr., F, Clemson; Valentin Noel, So., M, Pitt
Oct. 26 – Grayson Barber, Jr., M, Clemson; Omar Hernandez, So., M, Wake Forest
Nov. 2 – Jacob Labovitz, Sr., F, Virginia Tech
Nov. 9 – Jack Lynn, Jr., F, Notre Dame
March 8 – Giovanni Montesdeoca, Sr., F, North Carolina
March 15 – Jack Lynn, Jr., F, Notre Dame; Giovanni Montesdeoca, Sr., F, North Carolina
March 22 - Valentin Noel, So., M, Pitt; Mike Suski, So., M, Boston College
March 29 - Thor Ulfarsson, Fr., F, Duke
April 5 – Kristo Strickler, Sr., F, Virginia Tech
2020-21 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 21 – Keagan McLaughlin, Sr., GK, Notre Dame
Sept. 28 – Arturo Ordonez, So., D, Pitt
Oct. 5 – Alec Smir, Jr., GK, North Carolina
Oct. 12 – Colin Shutler, Gr., GK, Virginia; Fillipo Zattarin, Gr., D, North Carolina
Oct. 19 – George Marks, Jr., GK, Clemson
Oct. 26 – Oskar Ågren, So., D, Clemson
Nov. 2 –Nico Benalcazar, So., D, Wake Forest
Nov. 9 – Andrew Pannenberg, Jr., GK, Wake Forest
March 8 – Oliver Gerbig, Jr., D, Virginia
March 15 – Philip Quinton, Jr., D, Notre Dame
March 22 - Christian Garner, Jr., GK, Boston College; Alex Rando, So., GK, Virginia
March 29 – Jackson Walti, Jr., M, Pitt
April 5 – Nathan Durst, So., D, Virginia Tech