Kozlova named ACC Offensive Player of the WeekKozlova named ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Women's Soccer

Kozlova named ACC Offensive Player of the Week

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Announced today by the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia Tech redshirt-freshman forward Nicole Kozlova has been chosen as the ACC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Hokies remain perfect on the season with a pair of home wins last week.
 
She is the first Tech field player to earn an ACC Player of the Week honor since Murielle Tiernan, who earned the last of her three on Sept. 6, 2016. Kozlova is also the third Tech freshman to garner the award since the Hokies joined the ACC. Ashley Stinson was the first, being named on Sept. 4, 2004, while Marika Gray was chosen on Sept. 10, 2007.

Kozlova started her weekend by opening the scoring in the 23rd-ranked Hokies' match against Alabama, the team's third straight match against an SEC foe. Tech took the 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Mikayla Mance got just enough of the ball on a tackle in front to Kozlova, who then beat Tide goalkeeper Alex Plavin.

 
Tech would take the match, 2-0, as Emmalee McCarter secured it with an insurance goal marking the fourth straight win for the Hokies over an SEC opponent dating back to last year's NCAA tournament victory over Arkansas.
 
On Sunday, the Hokies faced their first deficit of the season, but battled back using a pair of Kozlova goals to record the 2-1 comeback victory over Yale.
 
Tech broke through on the board in the 65th minute when Emily Gray played a through ball into Kozlova, who took a couple of touches and then finished it with a strike to the far post. 


Kozlova wasn't done as she netted the game winner with under seven minutes left in the contest. McCarter started the play with pass down the right side to Molly Feighan, who took a touch before crossing the ball.
 
The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native finished it off for her second of the day and her team-leading fourth of the year. She is tied for the team-lead in game winners (2) with Mance and tied for the team-lead in points (8) with McCarter. 


With the two goals, Kozlova became the first Hokie with a multiple-goal game since Kelsey Irwin had a brace at Villanova on Sept. 7 of last year (a 3-0 victory). She is also the first Tech player with back-to-back game-winning goals since Alani Johnson (Aug. 26 & 28, 2016), which ironically, earned Johnson the ACC award on Aug. 29, 2016.

The Hokies are back in action this upcoming weekend when they head out on the road for the Battle by the Beach in Wilmington, N.C. Tech will play the College of Charleston on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and the host UNCW Seahawks on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.