Ashley Flinn Named ACC Player of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. – For her two-goal performance in a 2-0 upset of No. 3 Notre Dame, junior striker Ashley Flinn was named ACC Player of the Week Tuesday.
Flinn, who leads the team with eight goals this season, delivered what proved to be her fourth game-winner of the year in the 52nd minute. She tacked on another goal in the 84th minute, capping her third multi-goal performance of the season with a signature strike from the top of the penalty box.
Flinn’s eight tallies are the most for a Hurricane since Kate Howarth struck for 11 in 2011.
“When the pressure is on, she wants the team on her shoulders to put us ahead,” head coach Mary-Frances Monroe said. “What people don’t see is that Ashley has been coming out for extra training. The goals that she scored were things we’ve been working with a group of our forwards.”
The Romeo, Mich., native has developed a penchant for scoring timely goals. Before Sunday’s win, Flinn had already recorded an overtime winner against Jacksonville (Aug. 25), a hat trick against Cleveland State (Sept. 6), and an 89th-minute goal to beat Florida Atlantic (Sept. 8).
The goals were her first two in six conference matches this season.
“It’s been an up-and-down year for some of our offensive-minded contributors,” Monroe said. “Ashley started out strong, then hit a little bit of a lull. Getting those two fantastic goals, both of which she fully earned, was good for her confidence and to prove to herself she can compete in the conference.”
Flinn also played a crucial role in Miami’s last upset of a ranked foe, scoring in the final seconds of a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Florida State in the team’s 2012 regular season finale.
“For her, she finally realized this is her comfort zone, and that if she does get an opportunity, she really needs to perform and finish so that our team can find success,” Monroe said. “She has been great for us.”
The recognition marked the career-first weekly award for Flinn. To read the full release from the ACC, click HERE.
The Hurricanes (7-4-0) will take on visiting Pittsburgh (4-8-1) Thursday night at Cobb Stadium before traveling north for a Sunday matchup with Syracuse (5-7-1). Kickoff for Thursday’s contest against the Panthers is set for 7 p.m.
