Casey McCluskey has a new award to go with her four All-ACC first team selections. The senior forward was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s 10 coaches.
McCluskey downplayed her individual success, giving her entire team credit for the award.
“I’m really happy and I’m really honored that I won it,” McCluskey said. “It’s such an honor for our team that we got so much respect. I won it, but it really is an award for our whole team because our whole team has generated a lot of offense this year and we’ve scored a lot of goals. So I think everyone is really excited.”
Head coach Robbie Church was excited about McCluskey’s award and said he was also proud of his team’s co-captain.
“Casey McCluskey, the Offensive Player of the Year in this conference, with Heather O’Reilly and Lori Chalupny of Carolina and all the great attacking players?” Church asked rhetorically. “It’s just tremendous for her.”
McCluskey led the ACC in game-winning goals (8) and finished second in goals (15) and points (35). Her offensive statistics increased after a mid-season switch from midfielder to forward, and she recorded 14 of her goals after the change.
McCluskey became only the 15th ACC player since 1987 to earn first-team All-ACC honors for four years and only the second Duke player.
Three other players also won awards. Midfielder Rebecca Moros earned second team All-ACC honors and goalkeeper Allison Lipsher and midfielder Lorraine Quinn were named to the All-Freshman squad.
Moros is tied for second in the ACC with 11 assists and has also registered four goals. Despite her breakout season, the sophomore was surprised by the award.
“I didn’t expect it,” Moros said. “You never really expect something like that.”
Lipsher started 14 of 18 matches for Duke, recording six shutouts in her seven victories while posting a 1.11 goals against average. Quinn started all 18 games for the Blue Devils, totaling three goals and four assists.
“It’s an honor to be All-ACC,” Quinn said. “It’s just another step, I’ve got to take it to anther level, I’ve got to keep trying to improve from there. So it just gives me another thing to strive for.”
Church said that the individual awards will help immensely in Duke’s local recruiting efforts.
“It does a lot in the recruiting area that players can be recognized with North Carolina and can even be recognized ahead of them,” Church said.
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