NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Atlantic 10 announced on Tuesday at
Lauren Bell and
Megan Virgin have received weekly conference honors for their performances against Appalachian State and Lehigh this past weekend. Bell received co-offensive player of the week honors, while Virgin earned defensive player of the week.
Bell delivered the golden goal in the 100th minute of Sunday's victory over Lehigh to lift the Dukes to their first victory of the season. The goal marked the junior's seventh score of her career and her 17th point overall as a Duke. The goal also prevented a third consecutive tie for the Dukes, having tied Loyola Marymount and Appalachian State in the previous two matches. The native of Hermitage, Pa. shares the weekly accolade with Melissa Kossler of UMass.
Bell is the first Duke to be honored as an A-10 Offensive Player of the Week since
Katie O'Connor earned the honor on October 2, 2017.
Virgin allowed just two goals in 210 minutes of action this week, with both contests against the Mountaineers and Mountain Hawks being extending into double overtime. She made nine saves on the week and earned her first win as a Duke against Lehigh. She has allowed just five goals through four games as a Duke, with the only game allowing more than a single goal coming against No. 11 West Virginia. In 2019, she currently has a .808 save percentage, with 21 total saves.
Virgin's high school teammate and former Duquesne goalkeeper,
Kyra Murphy '19, was the last Duke to be named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week (September 4, 2018).
Bell, Virgin and the rest of the Dukes will face nationally-ranked NC State this weekend in Raleigh. The contest against the Wolfpack is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Atlantic 10 Weekly Honors – 9/3
Co-Offensive POTW:
Lauren Bell, Duquesne / Melissa Kossler, UMass
Defensive POTW:
Megan Virgin, Duquesne
Rookie of the Week: Emily Cuccio, Saint Joseph's
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