CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke graduate forward Forster Ajago and Virginia graduate midfielder Mouhameth Thiam shared Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Wake Forest senior defender Garrison Tubbs was selected ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
A native of Navrongo, Ghana, Ajago continued his scoring form last week, tallying a goal against both Elon and NC State, with both coming off headers. The Blue Devils earned a 3-0 win over Elon on Tuesday and a 2-1 league victory against the Wolfpack on Friday. Ajago now has six goals over the Blue Devils’ last six matches. He remains the ACC leader in goals (11), points (22), goals per game (.917), points per game (1.83) and is tied for second in the league with three game-winning goals.
Thiam was crucial in Virginia's comeback win over No. 11 Pitt. After Virginia fell behind less than 10 minutes into the match, Thiam responded with a goal just nine minutes later to even the score. The native of Dakar, Senegal, then provided an assist on the eventual game-winning goal scored by Stephen Annor. Virginia recorded its first comeback win of the season while earning a key three points in the league standings.
A native of Brunswick, Georgia, Tubbs captained Wake Forest to a 2-0 week, as the Demon Deacons defeated Wofford, 2-0, on Tuesday before scoring a 1-0 victory over No. 14 North Carolina on Saturday. The Deacs’ defense gave up just nine shots in two games. Wake Forest has now logged four straight clean sheets overall as well as four consecutive shutouts in ACC play (448 straight scoreless minutes in league play). With the two victories, Wake Forest has now won seven-straight matches which is the second longest streak nationally behind only No. 1 Marshall.
Week 7 of conference play includes six matches this weekend. ACC Network features a Friday doubleheader, with Boston College at Clemson at 6 p.m. and Notre Dame at Wake Forest at 8 p.m. The Fighting Irish currently lead the ACC’s Coastal Division, while the Demon Deacons are atop the Atlantic Division standings.
2023 ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 29 – Forster Ajago, Gr., F, Duke; Matthew Roou, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Sept. 5 – Gage Guerra, Jr., F, Louisville
Sept. 12 – Gage Guerra, Jr., F, Louisville
Sept. 19 – Stephen Annor Gyamfi, Fr., F, Virginia
Sept. 26 – Damien Barker John, So., F, Louisville; Quenzi Huerman, Gr., F, North Carolina
Oct. 3 – Nick Pariano, Sr., M, Duke
Oct. 10 – Ousmane Sylla, Sr., M, Clemson
Oct. 17 – Forster Ajago, Gr., F, Duke; Mouhameth Thiam, Gr., M, Virginia
2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 29 – Alex Svetanoff, R-Fr., GK, Louisville
Sept. 5 – Trace Alphin, Jr., GK, Wake Forest
Sept. 12 – Julian Eyestone, Fr., GK, Duke
Sept. 19 – Timi Adams, Jr., GK, Virginia Tech
Sept. 26 – Bryan Dowd, Sr., GK, Notre Dame
Oct. 3 – Joey Batrouni, Jr., GK, Virginia
Oct. 10 – Jahiem Wickham, So., GK, Syracuse
Oct. 17 – Garrison Tubbs, Sr., D, Wake Forest