DURHAM – Duke’s Michelle Cooper has been named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and Kat Rader was tabbed ACC Freshman of the Year, while five Blue Devils were selected to the All-ACC Teams as the ACC announced its women’s soccer postseason awards Wednesday.
Cooper earned All-ACC First Team accolades, while Rader, graduate student Delaney Graham, senior Ruthie Jones and senior Sophie Jones earned second-team honors. It marks the fourth time in school history Duke has registered five or more All-ACC selections in a single season (2017, 2011, 1994).
A native of Clarkson, Mich., Cooper becomes the third Blue Devil in program history to be named ACC Offensive Player of the Year – Casey McCluskey (2004) and Imani Dorsey (2017). One of the nation’s premier offensive talents, Cooper leads the ACC in points (36) and goals (13), while ranking second in assists (10). She is the only player in the nation to have 10 or more goals and assists this season and became just the third Blue Devil to do so in a season – Dorsey (2017) and Laura Weinberg (2012).
Cooper totaled eight goals against ACC opponents, including four over the last three matches against Louisville, Notre Dame and Virginia. She added seven of her 10 assists versus ACC foes a well.
With the first-team nod, Cooper is just the second Blue Devil and 13th ACC player to earn All-ACC First Team honors as a freshman and sophomore (McCluskey).
Rader leads all ACC freshmen and ranks third nationally with 11 goals, including eight against ACC teams. A product of Stuart, Fla., Rader owns a team-best four game-winning goals and a total of 25 points on the season. She has scored four goals over the last three matches and collected braces versus Louisville and Wake Forest on the year.
It marks the second straight year and the fifth time in school history a Duke student-athlete has earned ACC Freshman of the Year. Rader joins Cooper (2021), Cassie Pecht (2012), McCluskey (2001) and Isis Dallis (1997). Rader also received All-ACC Freshman Team honors.
The Blue Devils have featured at least one player on the All-ACC Freshman Team every year except one, since the ACC began recognizing freshmen in 2000.
Ruthie Jones received All-ACC Second Team honors, after earning first-team accolades a year ago. On the season, Jones has collected four…
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