The ACC unveiled their 2026 season awards
on Wednesday, and the Syracuse Orange made an appearance among the league’s six honorees.The awards, which are based on a vote of the conference’s 13 head coaches, are given to the four main position groups, freshman and coach of the year.
‘Cuse’s lone honoree was goalie Dan Guyette, who was named the ACC Goalkeeper of the Year thanks to her work backstopping one of the best defenses in the country for the 13-5 Orange.
In SU’s 13th year in the ACC, this is the second
time a Syracuse player has earned this accolade, after Delaney Sweitzer won it in 2023.
Guyette has been excellent this year with a 7.81 goals-against average, .461 save percentage, 118 saves, 38 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Both her goals-against average and save percentage were second-best in the ACC, with her GAA the seventh-best mark nationally. Of course, she did all of this while facing one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Recently named one of the 25 Tewaaraton Nominees (aka Semifinalists), Guyette was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season and, last week, earned All-ACC First Team recognition from the league’s head coaches.
The mark of a truly great player is performing under the biggest pressure, and Guyette has been at her best this year in ‘Cuse’s biggest games. She finished the regular season with a 7.27 goals-against average and a .509 save percentage in games against ranked opponents.
Unsurprisingly, North Carolina took home half of the awards, led by Chloe Humphrey as Attacker of the Year. Her teammates Eliza Osburn and Sam Forrest took home Midfielder of the Year and Defender of the Year, respectively. Clemson’s Alexa Spallina was named Freshman of the Year, while Stanford’s Danielle Spencer won Coach of the Year.
Congratulations to Dan on this wonderful achievement! She and her teammates will learn their postseason destination this Sunday during the NCAA Selection Show at 9 PM on ESPN U.
