Oct. 27, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Florida State sophomore defender Ella Stephan and Duke senior forward  have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Soccer Co-Players of the Week.

The Seminoles’ Stephan scored the decisive goal in last Thursday night’s overtime win over second-ranked North Carolina and played a key role in Sunday’s shut out of NC State. Gummersall registered her first career hat trick to lead Duke to a 4-1 win over 13th-ranked Virginia Tech in Sunday’s Senior Day game for the Blue Devils.

Stephan, a native of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., recorded the game-winner against North Carolina scoring on a header off a corner with just 12 seconds remaining in double overtime as the Seminoles defeated the Tar Heels, 3-2, for just the second time in school history and first since 2000. Stephan out jumped the competition on the far post and found the back of the net from short distance for her second goal of the season and first career game-winner.

Stephan was also part of the Seminole backline that held the Tar Heels without a shot in both overtime periods. On Sunday against NC State, Stephan and the Seminole defense held the Wolfpack to just three shots while not allowing a shot in the second half. The two victories put FSU in sole possession of first place in the ACC with 19 points.

Gummersall, of Wilmette, Ill., led the Blue Devils’ to a 4-1 win over the Hokies. The win was Duke’s first against a ranked opponent this season. Gummersall registered her 11th career game-winning goal as she notched Duke’s first and second goals of the match to give the Blue Devils a 2-1 advantage. She added another goal late in the match to secure the win.

For her career, Gummersall now owns 34 career goals, which is one shy of fourth all-time on the Blue Devil record charts. Her 79 career points is fifth all-time, while her 11 goals this season is the ninth-best single-season performance at Duke.

The ACC, with four teams ranked among the top 10 and six among the top 17 of both the Soccer America and Soccer Times Coaches Polls, heads into its final week of the regular season with several spots in the 2009 Women’s Soccer Championship up for grabs.

Two key games are set for Thursday, when Duke (7-6-4, 3-3-2) travels to sixth-ranked Boston College (13-2-1, 5-2-1), while Wake Forest (12-3-2, 4-4-2) visits Maryland (12-2-2, 4-2-2). The Terps are ranked eighth nationally by Soccer America, while the Demon Deacons are ranked eighth by Soccer Times.

Conference action Friday finds Miami (8-8-1, 3-4-1) at Virginia Tech (12-5, 5-3), while Florida State (13-2.-1, 6-1-1) plays at Virginia (7-4-4, 2-4-2), and North Carolina (12-3-1, 5-3) plays host to Clemson (3-14, 0-9).

The regular season concludes with five more conference matches on Sunday. The ACC Championship, which will feature the ACC’s top eight finishers, will be held Nov. 4, 6, 8 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.