Oct. 20, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Following a game-winning performance her team's overtime victory against Virginia, North Carolina's Danielle Forword has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week, as announced Tuesday by the league. The honor is the second of the fall for Forword, a senior from East London, South Africa, and the fourth this season for a Tar Heel.

Senior Brianna O'Donnell was honored last week and senior Melanie Brill shared the honor on Oct. 5. Forword's first recognition of the year came on Sept. 22.

Last week, Forword scored two goals and added an assist as the Tar Heels defeated No. 3 Virginia and No. 11 James Madison in a pair of road games. On Saturday in Charlottesville, Va., she helped UNC take an early 1-0 lead with an assist on junior Elizabeth Drazdowski's goal in the ninth minute of play. After Virginia sent the game into overtime with a goal in the game's final seconds, Forword scored the gamewinner off a penalty corner with just over two minutes remaining in the first overtime period to seal the 2-1 victory. The win assured North Carolina of a first-round bye in the upcoming ACC Championship.

On Sunday at James Madison, Forword scored the game's second goal, off a penalty corner, as UNC won 2-0 to improve to 15-0 on the season.

Forword ranks third on the team with 11 goals this fall. She ranks ninth in the ACC in goals and 10th in points with 27, for 1.80 per game.

Forword's career total of 48 goals is one shy of moving onto UNC's top 10 career goals list.

North Carolina returns to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. home game against top-ranked Maryland at Francis E. Henry Stadium. Both teams enter the contest sporting perfect records and will battle for the ACC regular season title. The winner will stake claim to the top seed in the ACC Championship, which will be hosted by the University of Virginia on November 5, 6, and 8 in Charlottesville, Va.