STANFORD, Calif. — Having set the Stanford single-game record for caused turnovers against Duke on Sunday, Stanford defender Kate Bellissimo has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. Bellissimo becomes the third Cardinal to be named to the conference’s weekly honor sheet this season.
Bellissimo had a stellar week for the Cardinal as Stanford wrapped up its Virginia road trip with a 16-6 win over Virginia Tech before clinching its fifth ACC win of the season in an 11-10 thriller over No. 22/24 Duke on Sunday. Against the Hokies, Bellissimo tabbed four ground balls and two caused turnovers to her account as the Cardinal completed a perfect road trip. The fifth-year senior also helped aid the Stanford defense in limiting the Hokies to six goals, marking the fourth time this season the Cardinal has limited opponents to six goals or less.
Bellissimo, however, had her career-outing against Duke in one of the most thrilling games this season. Bellissimo accounted for eight of Stanford’s 14 caused turnovers on the day, earning all eight of them in the first half. Her eight caused turnovers shattered the Stanford single-game record of five that was set by Emily Rodriguez in 2000 and had since been tied 14 times including twice last season by Olivia Rose and Rylee Bouvier. Bellissimo also nabbed seven ground balls which is tied for ninth all-time in a single game in program history. The fifth-year ended the week with 10 caused turnovers and 11 ground balls to earn the conference weekly nod.
No. 2 Stanford is back in action this week as it hosts No. 11/12 Notre Dame on Saturday, March 14. Opening draw from Cagan Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.