McGlynn shares ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Announced today by the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia Tech junior goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn will share the ACC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honor with North Carolina senior defender Julia Ashley, while Louisville freshman forward Maisie Whitsett has been named this week's Offensive Player of the Week.

McGlynn posted her 13th career shutout at Virginia Tech saving seven shots in a 0-0 double overtime draw in the in the Hokies' season opener against San Diego. Her seven saves were tied for the third-most in a match for McGlynn in her career and is the most in the ACC this season. She followed that up with four saves against Georgetown in a 1-1 tie on Sunday.

The Jacksonville, Florida native was the only goalie in ACC to play back-to-back double overtime games in first weekend leading all goalkeepers with 220 minutes played. The effort comes off her just returning to Blacksburg on Wednesday and first training with the team on Thursday after her U-20 FIFA World Cup appearance in France. 

This is the second ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor for McGlynn in her career, as she took the honor last year on October 3. She was also named to the 2018 Preseason All-ACC Women's Soccer Team, as announced by the league two weeks ago and was voted on by the conference's coaches.

Ashley led a stout Tar Heel defense on the opening weekend of the season as North Carolina downed Illinois, 3-1, and No. 23 Ohio State, 2-0 to capture North Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance's 1,000th career victory. In the two games combined the UNC defense limited their opponents to just seven total shots, including just four on goal, and three corner kick opportunities.

Whitsett was the Cardinals leading scorer in a 2-0 opening week with seven points on three goals and one assist. In her Louisville debut, she led the offense with two goals and an assist in an 8-1 win over Wright State. She tallied the game winner in the 26the minute followed by an assist three minutes later, and her second goal in the 58th minute. Against Xavier, Whitsett headed a cross from Allison Whitfield into the back of the net with eight seconds remaining in the first overtime period for the game-winner. 

Tech (0-0-2) will be back in action at Thompson Field this upcoming weekend when the Hokies welcome UNC Wilmington to Blacksburg on Friday (Aug. 24, 7 p.m. start) and High Point on Sunday (Aug. 26, 5 p.m.).