CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia Tech junior forward/midfielder Alex Perez was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Blake Kelly and SMU senior defender Enzo Panozzo shared ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors for matches played from September 14-20, as announced Tuesday.
OFFENSIVE – Alex Perez, Jr., F/M, Virginia Tech (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Had a hand in three of Virginia Tech’s four goals in a 4-2 win at Duke.
• Finished with four points on a goal and two assists.
• His penalty kick conversion was his first goal of the season.
• Helped the Hokies to record their first win against Duke since Nov. 1, 2019. Tech's four goals were its most ever scored in the series, marking the first time since 2020 that the Hokies scored more than one goal in a match against Duke.
CO-DEFENSIVE – Blake Kelly, Jr., D, Notre Dame (Holt, Michigan)
• Helped the Fighting Irish to a 2-0 week, including a 3-1 road win over No. 1 Stanford and a 4-0 home victory over Detroit Mercy.
• Finished with a career-best 10 saves against the top-ranked Cardinal, including a crucial save on a Stanford penalty kick in the 70th minute.
• Recorded 11 saves and a .917 save percentage on the week, allowing just one goal across the pair of matches.
CO-DEFENSIVE – Enzo Panozzo, Sr., D, SMU (Sarasota, Florida)
• Led the Mustangs’ backline to become the only team in the conference to record a clean sheet in ACC play last week as SMU topped NC State, 1-0.
• SMU's defense limited NC State to only eight shots with two on goal, as the Mustangs posted their fifth clean sheet of the season.
• He topped his stellar defensive performance against NC State with the game-winning goal off a set piece.
Men’s Soccer Notes
• In the first NCAA RPI for 2026, five ACC teams rank among the top 25: No. 4 Clemson, No. 7 Pitt, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 11 SMU and No. 22 Louisville. That is tied for the most of any league.
• Louisville (7-0-2) and SMU (7-0-1) remain among 12 teams nationally that have yet to lose a match this season.
• ACC teams are 55-15-13 (.741) against non-conference competition this season. The total of 55 wins is the most of any conference.
2026 ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 25 – Xander Sevian, So., F, Clemson
Sept. 1 – Giacomo Zizza, Jr., M, Louisville
Sept. 8 – Ransford Gyan, Jr., M, Clemson
Sept. 15 – Jayden Fitzgerald Boes, Fr., F, Stanford
Sept. 22 – Alex Perez, Jr., F/M, Virginia Tech
2026 ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 25 – Beau Morrison, Jr., D, California
Sept. 1 – Jaylinn Mitchell, Sr., M, SMU
Sept. 8 – Blake Kelly, Jr., GK, Notre Dame
Sept. 15 – Vlad Walent, 5th, D, Notre Dame
Sept 22 – Blake Kelly, Jr., GK, Notre Dame; Enzo Panozzo, Sr., D, SMU