GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia sophomore attackman Connor Shellenberger was selected as the ACC Offensive Player of the Week, while his teammate, sophomore defender Cole Kastner, earned Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week.
 
Shellenberger scored four goals and assisted on three more as he posted a game-high seven points in No. 2 Virginia’s 15-11 win at then-No. 7 North Carolina last Thursday. His four goals are a season high. The Charlottesville, Virginia, native’s third goal of the game broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter, a lead in which UVa did not surrender. Shellenberger, who now leads the ACC and ranks second in the nation in points per game (6.67), has registered at least five points in each of his last 10 games, dating back to last season.
 
Kastner, who is currently second in the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.75), forced three UNC turnovers in the win over the Tar Heels. A native of Palo Alto, California, Kastner anchored a defense that held UNC to just one goal in the second half. The Cavaliers shut out UNC for over 21 minutes throughout the second, third and fourth periods. Kastner, who was tasked with guarding the ACC’s leading goal scorer, Chris Gray, held Gray to just one goal – his season low. Gray had combined for 13 goals in his previous two outings entering the game against the Cavaliers.
 
ACC teams hold four of the top 15 spots in the USILA/Dynamic 2022 Men’s Coaches poll this week: Virginia (2), North Carolina (9), Duke (12) and Notre Dame (15). Virginia takes on top-ranked Maryland at 3 p.m. Saturday in Washington, D.C., in a rematch of the 2021 national championship game. Notre Dame plays host to No. 17 Michigan at noon Saturday on ACC Network.
 
In other ACC games this weekend, on Saturday Syracuse travels to Stony Brook while Duke plays Towson in Washington, D.C., and on Sunday North Carolina heads to High Point.
 
2022 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 8 – Brennan O’Neill, So., A, Duke
Feb. 15 – Chris Gray, Gr., A, North Carolina
Feb. 22 – Pat Kavanagh, Jr., A, Notre Dame
March 1 – Chris Gray, Gr., A, North Carolina
March 8 – Chris Gray, Gr., A, North Carolina | Payton Cormier, Jr., A, Virginia
March 15 – Connor Shellenberger, So., A, Virginia
 
2022 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 8 – Mike Adler, Gr., G, Duke
Feb. 15 – Matthew Nunes, Fr., G, Virginia
Feb. 22 – Tyler Carpenter, Jr., LSM, Duke
March 1 – Petey LaSalla, Sr., FO, Virginia
March 8 – Cole Kastner, So., D, Virginia
March 15 – Cole Kastner, So., D, Virginia