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Emina Ekic Louisville Cardinals

Emina Ekic Named ACC Offensive Player of the Year

November 13, 2020 | Women's Soccer

Ekic was also named First Team All-ACC, while Gabby Kouzelos was named Third Team All-ACC.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville women's soccer senior Emina Ekic has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ACC, while senior Gabby Kouzelos was named Third Team All-ACC.

"I could not be any happier for Emina and Gabby," said head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. "Both young women embody all of the qualities of a highly successful student-athlete. They are selfless, tireless, detail-oriented and tremendous students of the game. What a fitting way for Emina to end her collegiate career as ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Gabby is clearly one of the top goalkeepers in the conference and the country so her selection is well-deserved. I've very proud of both of them."
 
It marks the first time that a Louisville player has earned ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors. The last time a Louisville player was named conference offensive player of the year was in 2013 when Christine Exeter took home the honors in the Cardinals' lone season in the American Athletic Conference.
 
Ekic turned in a stellar fall season, tying for the league-lead with six goals during the regular season and then adding another on a stellar free kick in the ACC quarterfinals against Virginia. Her seven goals are tied for third nationally.

The Louisville, Kentucky, native also tallied three assists this season to compile 17 points. She played a role in 10 of the Cardinals' 11 goals this season, either scoring or recording the assist.

Ekic was tabbed ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6 after leading the Cardinals to wins against Syracuse and Boston College, as she contributed to all five goals during the week, scoring three goals with two assists.

She has 29 goals for her career, which ranks fourth all-time in program history, while her 19 career assists rank second.

Kouzelos played every minute in the net for the Cardinals during the fall season. Her 41 saves rank third in the ACC and 14th in the NCAA, while her four shutouts ranks fourth in the league and 12th in the country.

Four of those shutouts came in the Cardinals' first six games where she allowed a combined three goals.

Kouzelos recorded a career-high 10 saves at Virginia on Oct. 15. It marked the second time she recorded at least nine saves in a game this season, a benchmark that previously hadn't been met by a Louisville goalkeeper since 2015.

2020 All-ACC Women's Soccer Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Emina Ekic, Louisville, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year: Malia Berkely, Florida State, Sr., D
Midfielder of the Year: Jaelin Howell, Florida State, Jr., M
Freshman of the Year: Lia Godfrey, Virginia, Fr., M
Coach of the Year: Mark Krikorian, Florida State

First Team All-ACC
Sophie Jones, Duke, So., M
Malia Berkely, Florida State, Sr., D
Jaelin Howell, Florida State, Jr., M
Yujie Zhao, Florida State, Jr., M
Emina Ekic, Louisville, Sr., M,
Maycee Bell, North Carolina, So., D
Claudia Dickey, North Carolina, Jr., GK
Emily Fox, North Carolina Sr., D
Rachel Jones, North Carolina, Jr., F
Brianna Pinto, North Carolina, Jr., M
Alexa Spaanstra, Virginia, Jr., F

Second Team All-ACC
Makenna Morris, Clemson, Fr., D
Mariana Speckmaier, Clemson, Sr., F
Emily Madril, Florida State, Jr., D
Clara Robbins, Florida State, Jr., M
Cristina Roque, Florida State, Fr., GK
Taylor Otto, North Carolina, Sr., M
Sammi Fisher, Notre Dame, Sr., M
Amanda West, Pitt, So., F
Lia Godfrey, Virginia, Fr., M
Rebecca Jarrett, Virginia, Jr., F
Diana Ordonez, Virginia, So., F,

Third Team All-ACC
Megan Bornkamp, Clemson, Fr., D
Hal Hershfelt, Clemson, So., M
Courtney Jones, Clemson, Jr., M
Delaney Graham, Duke, Jr., D
Taylor Mitchell, Duke, Sr., D
Jenna Nighswonger, Florida State, So., M
Gabby Kouzelos, Louisville, Sr., GK
Sam Meza, North Carolina, Fr., M
Kiki Van Zanten, Notre Dame, So., F
Emily Gray, Virginia Tech, Jr., M
Hannah Betfort, Wake Forest, Sr., D

All-Freshman Team
Megan Bornkamp, Clemson, D
Makenna Morris, Clemson, D
Jody Brown, Florida State, F
Cristina Roque, Florida State, GK
Kaitlyn Zipay, Florida State, F
Talia Dellaperuta, North Carolina, F
Sam Meza, North Carolina, M
Lia Godfrey, Virginia, M
Samar Guidry, Virginia, D
Tori Powell, Virginia Tech, F
Sophie Faircloth, Wake Forest, D

For the latest information on Louisville women's soccer, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Twitter account at @ULWomensSoccer or on Facebook at facebook.com/ulwomenssoccer.