CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame junior forward Eno Nto was named the final Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the 2023 season, while Virginia senior defender Aidan O’Connor was selected ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
Also named the College Soccer News National Player of the Week, Nto scored a career-high four goals in Notre Dame’s 6-0 win over No. 20 Pitt on Friday to close out the regular season. It was the first four-goal performance for a Notre Dame player since Joseph Lapira scored four against Indiana on Sept. 3, 2006. A native of Derby, England, he is just the second ACC player in the last 10 seasons to score four goals against an ACC foe and the first since Sept. 24, 2016, when North Carolina’s Nils Bruening racked up four goals against Boston College. Nto recorded a hat trick in the second half.
O'Connor was crucial in helping the Cavaliers record a clean sheet, 1-0, against No. 10 North Carolina on Friday and to post a 3-1 win over a strong High Point side on Tuesday. At center back, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, native led a stout Virginia defense that took on heavy pressure throughout against the Tar Heels as the Cavaliers took on nine shots in the game while UNC held the majority of the possession. He also recorded the assist on Mouhameth Thiam's goal in the 85th minute, as UVA recorded its fourth consecutive win.
The 2023 ACC Championship begins Wednesday and features a doubleheader on ACC Network, beginning with the reigning ACC and national champions, No. 6 seed Syracuse, playing host to No. 11 NC State at 6 p.m. The second game of the ACCN doubleheader is No. 9 Louisville at No. 8 Pitt. No. 12 Boston College plays at No. 5 Duke and No. 10 Virginia Tech travels to No. 7 North Carolina, with both games airing at 6 p.m. Wednesday on ACCNX.
The quarterfinal round features a quadruple-header on Sunday, Nov. 5, on ACC Network and begins at 2 p.m. with No. 3 Virginia hosting Syracuse or NC State. No. 2 Wake Forest entertains North Carolina or Virginia Tech at 4 p.m., followed by No. 4 Clemson hosting Duke or Boston College at 6 p.m. Top-seeded Notre Dame wraps up the quarterfinals by facing Pitt or Louisville at 8 p.m.
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
Oct. 24 – Stephen Annor Gyamfi, Fr., F, Virginia
Oct. 31 – Eno Nto, Jr., Notre Dame
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
Oct. 24 – Andrew Cordes, So., GK, North Carolina
Oct. 31 – Aidan O’Connor, Sr., D, Virginia