Men’s Lacrosse: Shellenberger, Kastner claim ACC weekly honors

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia attackman Connor Shellenberger and defenseman Cole Kastner have been named the ACC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, the conference office announced on Tuesday. The duo led the Cavaliers in their 15-10 win at No. 1 Notre Dame this past Saturday. The victory also snapped the Fighting Irish’s 12-game win streak, which led the nation at the time.

Tuesday’s announcement marks the second time that Shellenberger and Kastner have swept ACC weekly honors for the Hoos. Both Shellenberger and Kastner were named ACC Players of the Week for their performance in UVA’s 15-11 win at North Carolina last season.

Against the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense, Shellenberger tied for a game-high seven points with a pair of goals and five assists. Four of his five assists were to fellow attackman Xander Dickson (6g, 1a), who also finished with seven points in the win. Virginia’s 15 goals against Notre Dame marked the second-most goals by UVA in the series and most since 1994.

Shellenberger’s five assists are the most by a Notre Dame opposing player in Arlotta Stadium history and most by an ACC player in a conference matchup this season. It also marked the third time this season that Shellenberger has dished out at least five assists in a single game. Shellenberger currently leads the nation in assists per game (3.88) and is third nationally in points per game (5.62), also good for first in the ACC.

Kastner rose to the occasion by holding Notre Dame star attackman Pat Kavanagh, who entered Saturday’s contest fifth in the nation in points per game, to just two goals and two assists in addition to a pair of turnovers. Kastner finished the game with one ground ball and anchored a UVA defense that held Irish offense, which ranked second in the country  in scoring, to their lowest goal total in a single game since the Cavaliers defeated Notre Dame 12-8 at Klöckner Stadium last year.

2023 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 7 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke
Feb. 14 – Joey Spallina, Fr., A, Syracuse
Feb. 21 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke; Connor Shellenberger, Jr., A, Virginia 
Feb. 28 – Payton Cormier, Sr., A, Virginia 
March 7 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke
March 14 – Xander Dickson, R-Sr., A, Virginia
March 21 – Pat Kavanagh, Sr., A, Notre Dame
March 28 – Connor Shellenberger, Jr., A, Virginia 

2023 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 7 – Will Mark, Sr., G, Syracuse
Feb. 14 – Grayson Sallade, Gr., SSDM, Virginia 
Feb. 21 – Jake Naso, Jr., FO, Duke; Petey LaSalla, Gr., FO, Virginia 
Feb. 28 – Wilson Stephenson, Gr., LSM, Duke; Cade Saustad, Sr., D, Virginia 
March 7 – Liam Entenmann, Sr., G, Notre Dame
March 14 – Liam Entenmann, Sr., G, Notre Dame
March 21 – William Helm, Gr., G, Duke
March 28 – Cole Kastner, Jr., D, Virginia