Eagles Rack up ACC Player of the Year Awards
May 01, 2024 | Lacrosse
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -Â Four Eagles for Boston College lacrosse earned ACC Player of the Year honors, as the conference announced Player of the Year awards.Â
Belle Smith was named the Midfielder of the Year for a second straight season, while Sydney Scales repeated as the Defender of the Year. Shea Dolce was named Goalie of the Year and Acacia Walker-Weinstein was named Co-Coach of the Year.Â
Smith was named to the ACC All-Tournament team has poured in 37 goals, 14 assists, 51 points, 19 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers and a career-high 39 draw controls. The two-way middy is the only player in the ACC to post at least 35 goals, 10 assists, 15 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers and 35 draw controls. She's the first midfielder since Ally Mastroianni to repeat in 21-22. Smith is a Top 25 Tewaaraton finalist and has recorded at least three points in 10 games.Â
Scales is the first defender since Barbara Sullivan (Notre Dame) in 2015-16 to repeat as Defender of the Year. She anchors the second-best scoring defense in the country and was named the ACC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after helping the defense allow just 20 goals in the three wins. She leads the way with 33 caused turnovers and 34 ground ball. An All-ACC selection, Scales was also recently named Eagle of the Year and is a top-25 Tewaaraton Finalist.Â
Dolce earns a second straight Player of the Year honor after she was named Freshman of the Year in 2023. She leads the ACC in goals against average (8.17), which ranks third in the country and is first with a .462 save percentage. The Darien, Conn. native posted an impressive .535 save percentage in the ACC Tournament and was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team and is a first-team selection. She made 10 saves in the ACC Championship. The goalie was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Week winner.Â
Walker-Weinstein captures her third ACC Coach of the Year award after helping lead BC to a second consecutive ACC title and 16-3 mark. Just in the past two weeks, the Eagles have defeated Syracuse twice and Notre Dame. BC leads the country with 135 wins since 2017.Â
