CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia goalkeeper Jake Marek has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday (April 7). Marek led the Cavaliers to a 14-10 road win over then-No. 7 Duke at Koskinen Stadium last Saturday (April 4), a victory that snapped Virginia’s 22-year drought against the Blue Devils in regular-season play.
The honor is the first of Marek’s tenure at UVA and his first conference weekly accolade since earning Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Week on April 16, 2024. It also marks the second straight week a Cavalier has claimed ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
For the fourth consecutive game, Marek anchored Virginia’s defense with a double-digit save performance. Facing 47 shots, he held the nation’s top-scoring offense (16.89 goals per game) to 10 goals—its second-lowest output of the season. Virginia also limited ACC leading scorer Benn Johnston to one goal. Duke’s man-up unit, which entered ranked No. 3 nationally (55.6%), converted just once in three opportunities. Marek made a key save on the Blue Devils’ first EMO and forced a turnover on their second.
During Virginia’s four-game winning streak, Marek has posted a 58.6 save percentage while allowing 9.28 goals per game, recording at least a .500 save percentage in each contest.
