CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Syracuse senior back Eefke van den Nieuwenhof notched Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Louisville senior midfielder Mia Duchars was selected ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
Van den Nieuwenhof was a force as the No. 10 Orange split their results last weekend, scoring three goals. On Friday, the native of Soest, Netherlands, delivered the double overtime game-winning goal on a penalty stroke to take down No. 12 Boston College on the road. On Sunday, she buried two goals, bookending the Orange scoring at No. 14 Harvard. She opened the day with a blast on the attacking penalty corner before sniping her second penalty stroke in the 53rd minute to tie the action 5-5. She improved to a perfect 4-for-4 on strokes this season and already has a career-best 11 goals in 2023.
Duchars helped the fifth-ranked Cardinals notch their first ACC win, improve to 9-1 overall and extend their home record to 5-0 this season. The native of St. Louis, Missouri, helped the Louisville defense hold No. 7 Virginia in check, limiting the Cavaliers to five shots (two on goal) and one penalty corner. The midfielder also dished out a penalty corner assist on Louisville insurance goal in the 2-0 victory. Duchars also was part of the UofL’s stellar defense in a 2-0 win at Miami University on Tuesday as the Cardinals limited the RedHawks to just one shot.
Six ACC programs are ranked in the NFHCA Top 20 this week, headlined by North Carolina, which returned to No. 1 this week. The Tar Heels are followed by No. 4 Duke, No. 5 Louisville, No. 8 Virginia, No. 11 Boston College and No. 12 Syracuse. League play continues Friday with the fourth of seven play dates. Three matches are slated, including Wake Forest at Louisville at 6 p.m. Friday on ACC Network. Boston College travels to North Carolina and Duke visits Virginia.
2023 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 29 – Laura Janssen, Gr., F, Virginia
Sept. 5 – Tyler Everslage, Fr., F, Louisville
Sept. 12 – Alaina McVeigh, So., F, Duke
Sept. 19 – Margo Carlin, Gr., F, Boston College
Sept. 26 – Kira Curland, Jr., M, Duke
Oct. 3 - Eefke van den Nieuwenhof, Sr., B, Syracuse
2023 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 29 – Merlijn van der Vegt, Gr., GK, Louisville
Sept. 5 – Romea Riccardo, Sr., B, North Carolina
Sept. 12 – Tyler Kennedy, Jr., GK, Virginia
Sept. 19 – Piper Hampsch, Sr., GK, Duke
Sept. 26 – Piper Hampsch, Sr., GK, Duke
Oct. 3 – Mia Duchars, Sr., M, Louisville