ACC Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced earlier today that George Marks (Defensive Player of the Week) and Kimarni Smith (Co-Offensive Player of the Week) have been named ACC Players of the Week following a pair of 2-1 victories over No. 1 Wake Forest and Duke. This week’s selections give Clemson three Player of the Week honors this season.
This is the first time this year that either athlete has earned one of the conference’s weekly honors. This is the second time Smith has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors in his career, with the first occurrence coming on Sept. 16, 2019. This is the first time a Clemson player has been named Defensive Player of the Week since Patrick Bunk-Andersen received the honor on Oct. 30, 2018. This is the first time a Clemson goalkeeper has been named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Week since Ximo Miralles on Sept. 25, 2017.
Smith, a senior from Nottingham, England, collected this week’s accolade following one goal and two assists across the Tigers’ last two matches. Smith’s two assists were on the game-winning goal in each match. Smith’s goal against Wake Forest was the 20th of his career and second of the season. The senior currently ranks 11th in the nation for shots per game (2.60) and is tied for the team’s lead in goals (2) this season.
Marks, a junior from Raleigh, N.C., earned this week’s defensive honor after recording seven saves across the past two matches. Tuesday’s match against Wake Forest saw Marks post a season-high four saves. Marks currently ranks fifth in the nation in goals against average (0.694) and fourth in save percentage (0.786). Marks has logged the fifth-most minutes by a goalkeeper this season (390) nationally.
Smith shares the conference’s weekly offensive honor with Pittsburgh’s Valentin Noel. Noel recorded two goals and four shots on goal in the Panthers’ 3-2 overtime victory against Virginia.
Clemson will return to the field on Friday, Oct. 23 for a match in Raleigh, N.C., against NC State. The two sides will kick off at 8 p.m. For all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson men’s soccer, be sure to follow @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter.
