Lachowecki, Perez the ACC Players of the Week
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami soccer team swept the ACC weekly awards, as announced Tuesday morning by the conference, while one Hurricane also garnered a national award
Junior forward Gracie Lachowecki was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Catalina Perez won ACC Defensive Player of the Week. Perez was also tabbed as the goalkeeper on the Top Drawer Soccer Women’s Team of the Week.
“I am so excited for both Gracie and Cat,” Miami head coach Mary-Frances Monroe said. “They both had big-time games individually against Notre Dame. Cat made a huge save in regulation and Gracie finished a great opportunity in OT . . . I am so proud of both of them.”
Lachowecki and Perez led Miami to a thrilling 1-0 double overtime victory over No. 14/4 Notre Dame Friday night at Cobb Stadium. The win was Miami’s first over a ranked opponent since knocking off third-ranked Notre Dame 2-0 Oct. 6, 2013.
An Evansville, Ind. native, Lachowecki tallied the golden goal in the 106th minute off a beautiful through ball from senior forward Amy Schmidt. Lachowecki leads the Hurricanes with five goals this season and ranks second in points with 11, behind only Schmidt, who has 13.
Perez made the second start of her career in the match against the Fighting Irish and earned her first win and clean sheet. From nearby Boca Raton, Fla., Perez also logged six saves in the victory to equal her career high and made a number of key plays throughout the match.
Joining Perez on the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week were 10 others players—one for each position—including one from the ACC. She was the lone goalkeeper recognized for the Sept. 28-Oct. 4 stretch.
With Lachowecki and Perez garnering the honors Tuesday, Miami became the first team this season to sweep the ACC weekly awards. Additionally, they are the Hurricanes’ first player of the week honorees since Ashley Flinn received the accolade Oct. 8, 2013 for her brace in Miami’s aforementioned win over Notre Dame that season.
Lachowecki, Perez and the Hurricanes return to the field Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. when they host No. 22/24 Duke (6-4-3, 0-2-2 ACC) at Cobb Stadium.
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