CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia freshman forward Nicholas Simmonds and Virginia Tech senior forward Declan Quill shared Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors, while SMU senior defender Slade Starnes earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week laurels for matches played from October 20-26, as announced Tuesday.
Nicholas Simmonds, Fr., F, Virginia (Midlothian, Va.)
• Was involved in each of Virginia's goals in a 4-0 win over Clemson.
• Scored three goals and recorded one assist to total a career-high seven points.
• Became the first UVA player to record a hat trick since 2012 and the first UVA freshman to earn a hat trick since 2009.
• Leads the ACC with seven goals in league play.
Declan Quill, Sr., F, Virginia Tech (Falls Church, Va.)
• Scored three goals and added an assist in wins over Winthrop and California.
• Carried the Hokies on his back with a second-half hat-trick to erase a two-goal deficit in a 3-2 win against California.
• Netted the first multi-goal game of his career while also scoring his first three goals of the season.
Slade Starnes, Sr., D, SMU (Dallas, Texas)
• Starnes led the Mustangs’ defense in a scoreless draw at No. 1 Stanford, as SMU held Stanford to its first goalless match at home this season.
• SMU became the first team to draw Stanford at Cagan Stadium this season, limiting the Cardinal to just four shots on target.
• The Dallas native was crucial in the Mustangs’ defense, winning almost every ball in the air, winning tackles, clearances and blocks.
Men’s Soccer Notes
• In the NCAA’s Tuesday RPI report, eight teams rank among the top 40, led by No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Virginia and No. 10 NC State.
• ACC teams have combined for a 72-19-24 record in non-conference play (.730 win percentage, best of any league).
• Stanford (16 points) holds a one-point lead over Virginia (15) in the regular-season standings heading into the final day of the regular season on Friday. NC State (14) and Clemson (13) also still have a chance to earn at least a share of the ACC’s regular-season title.
2025 ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 26 – Luka Lukic, Gr., F, California
Sept. 2 – Ransford Gyan, So., M, Clemson
Sept. 9 – Ransford Gyan, So., M, Clemson
Sept. 16 – Trevor Islam, So., M, Stanford; Luke Burns, So., M, Virginia
Sept. 23 – Donavan Phillip, Jr., F, NC State
Sept. 30 – Nathan Richmond, Sr., M, Clemson
Oct. 7 – Stephan Soghomonian, So., F, SMU
Oct. 14 - Dagur Traustason, Fr., F, Virginia Tech
Oct. 21 – Stephan Soghomonian, So., F, SMU
Oct. 28 – Nicholas Simmonds, Fr., F, Virginia; Declan Quill, Sr., F, Virginia Tech
2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 26 – Sam Joseph, Sr., GK, Virginia Tech
Sept. 2 – Mitch Ferguson, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Sept. 9 – Alex Svetanoff, Jr., GK, Louisville
Sept. 16 – Andrej Borak, Fr., GK, Boston College; Casper Mols, Gr., GK, Virginia
Sept. 23 – Logan Erb, Sr., GK, NC State
Sept. 30 – Slade Starnes, Sr., D, SMU
Oct. 7 – Casper Mols, Gr., GK, Virginia
Oct. 14 – Andrej Borak, Fr., GK, Boston College
Oct. 21 – Kawku Agyabeng, Fr., M, Clemson
Oct. 28 – Slade Starnes, Sr., D, SMU