CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina freshman forward/midfielder Linda Ullmark was selected the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while California sophomore defender Malia McMahon and Duke fifth-year goalkeeper Leah Freeman were chosen as the ACC Co-Defensive Players of the Week for matches played September 23-29.
Ullmark posted a pair of goals and an assist in North Carolina’s 2-1 victory over No. 19 Virginia last Friday, as the Tar Heels improved to 4-0 in conference play. The Buffalo, New York, native scored in each half, including the eventual game-winner in the 74th minute that sealed UNC’s fifth straight victory. In the first half, Ullmark squeaked in a shot past the goalkeeper in the 30th minute to even the score at 1-1. With the match tied at 2-2, the freshman rocketed a shot from just inside the 18-yard box and gave the home side a lead they would not relinquish. The two goals were the first two tallies of her collegiate career, as she became just the third UNC freshman to record five or more points in a single match since the 2020-21 spring campaign.
McMahon played the full 90 minutes against Pitt and Miami last week, leading the Golden Bears to a pair of conference victories. On Thursday, the McMahon and Cal backline held the Panthers scoreless despite entering the week averaging 2.9 goals per match. Pitt managed just five shots on goal with just two on frame in the second half, as the Bears blanked the Panthers, 1-0. In Sunday’s back-and-forth match with Miami, the Hurricanes were able to equalize in the 69th minute, but the Cal defense held the visitors to just one shot for the remainder of the match while McMahon’s header in the 78th minute gave the hosts the eventual 3-2 win. The goal was the San Clemente, California, native’s first of her collegiate career.
Freeman notched her 26th career clean sheet in Duke’s 3-0 victory over SMU on Friday. The Berkeley, California, native collected four saves in the win for her third shutout this season, tying for the seventh-most in the ACC. Allowing just two goals in her last eight matches, the four saves against the Mustangs were the second-most stops Freeman has made this season after making five stops in a win over North Carolina on September 5.
The women’s soccer action continues Thursday, October 3, when ACC Network will broadcast a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Kicking off the doubleheader will be Clemson visiting Pitt, as both teams look to get back into the win column. At 8 p.m. ET, Virginia Tech hits the road to Miami. Also on Thursday, Florida State heads to Wake Forest in a key ACC showdown at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.
2024 ACC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 20 – Taylor Huff, Sr., M/F, Florida State
Aug. 27 – Olivia Thomas, So., F, North Carolina & Maggie Cagle, Jr., F, Virginia
Sept. 3 – Giovana Canali, Fr., F, Miami
Sept. 10 – Karlie Lema, Sr., F, California
Sept. 17 – Caiya Hanks, Jr, F, Wake Forest
Sept. 24 – Emily Colton, Sr., M, Wake Forest
Oct. 1 – Linda Ullmark, Fr., F/M, North Carolina
2024 ACC Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 20 – Tatum Galvin, Jr., D, Virginia
Aug. 27 – Victoria Safradin, So., GK, Virginia
Sept. 3 – Allie George, Sr., D, Virginia Tech
Sept. 10 – Cameron Roller, So., D, Duke
Sept. 17 – Jasmine Aikey, Jr., D, Stanford & Lauren Hargrove, Sr., GK, Virginia Tech
Sept. 24 – Trinity Armstrong, Fr., D, North Carolina
Oct. 1 – Malia McMahon, So., D, California & Leah Freeman, Fifth Year, GK, Duke