DURHAM, N.C. – Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sammi Steele garnered ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career Tuesday after spearheading two solid defensive performances over the weekend. Steele’s efforts helped the second-ranked Blue Devils extend their program-best start to the season at 8-0.
In a meeting of unbeaten ACC teams Friday, Steele limited a Louisville offense averaging over four goals a game to just one score on a penalty corner. After Duke scored the go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute, she kept the Cardinals off the board for the remainder of the contest to give the Blue Devils their fifth victory over a ranked opponent.