CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Boston College midfielder Yani Zhong has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week, while Syracuse goalkeeper Vera Hekkenberg was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday.
 
Zhong scored three goals throughout two games for Boston College, including two against Maine on Friday, September 13. Both of Zhong’s goals against the Black Bears came off of penalty corners as she helped propel Boston College to its second-highest scoring effort of the season.  The Hamburg, Germany, native leads the ACC with 12 total points on the season, while splitting the conference lead in goals with five.
 
Hekkenberg helped lead Syracuse to a pair of wins over Northeastern and Lafayette over the weekend. After playing 30 scoreless minutes in net against Northeastern on Friday, September 13, the Orange once again turned to Hekkenberg in Sunday’s contest. The freshman from Naarden, Netherlands, earned her first career win while making six saves against Lafayette. Hekkenberg’s six saves were the most by a Syracuse goalkeeper this season – doubling Louise Pert’s three saves against both No. 14 Ohio State and No. 16 Penn State.
 
Six teams from the ACC are ranked in the most recent Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll, which was also released on Tuesday. North Carolina leads the way at No. 2, while No. 3 Virgina and No. 5 Duke also remain in the top five. Louisville is ranked at No. 12, Syracuse sits at No. 15, and Boston College rounds out the ACC grouping at No. 16.
 
Five conference games are on this weekend’s slate as league play gets underway. Thursday will feature four ACC matches, including Stanford and California making their ACC debuts. The Cardinal will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to meet the 12th-ranked Cardinals on Friday, September 22, before facing No. 3 Virginia on Sunday, September 22, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Cal heads to Charlottesville to face No. 3 Virginia before battling James Madison on Sunday in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
 
ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 3 – Charly Bruder, North Carolina
Sept. 10 – Suze Leemans, Virginia
Sept. 17 – Yani Zhong, Boston College
 
ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 3 – Grace Pottebaum, North Carolina
Sept. 10 – Tyler Kennedy, Virginia
Sept. 17 – Vera Hekkenberg, Syracuse