Oct. 6, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia Tech sophomore goalkeeper Kristin Carden, who played a key role in the Hokies' 1-0 upset of top-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week.

Carden made a season-best 10 saves in the Hokies' victory, their first ever over the Tar Heels or a No. 1-ranked team. Her most important save of the game came in the 67th minute, when she denied a shot from North Carolina's Casey Nogueira after a scramble, right on the goal line. Carden also denied three Tar Heel shots in the final 10 minutes of the match as the Hokies (10-2) posted their seventh straight win.

Virginia Tech's victory snapped a 33-match unbeaten streak for the Tar Heels that dated to last season and was UNC's first loss in ACC play since a 1-0 loss at Miami on September 30, 2007.

Earlier in the week on Thursday, Carden made five saves in a 2-1 road win at No. 11 Virginia. Carden's biggest play may have come in the 12th minute of the match, when she thwarted a penalty kick by the Cavaliers.

Carden, who was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America National Teams of the Week, played the full 180 matches in Virginia Tech's wins over Virginia and North Carolina and faced a total of 25 shots. The Virginia Beach, Va., native has tallied two shutouts on the season, both in ACC play, and collected 25 saves while sporting a 5-0 in goal record thus far.

The ACC, which continues to have six teams ranked among the nation's Top 25, resumes play Thursday night. Fifth-ranked Florida State travels to No. 21 Wake Forest, while 17th-ranked Maryland has a road date at Virginia.

Friday night finds now third-ranked North Carolina playing host to NC State, while Clemson travels to Miami.