Jimmy McCool earns 2nd ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor
Syracuse goalie Jimmy McCool has been named ACC Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. Jacob Halsema | Staff Photographer
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Syracuse goalie Jimmy McCool was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. McCool earned the honor for the second time this season after recording 17 saves in Syracuse’s 12-10 win over Virginia. McCool’s first honor came after SU’s win over then-No. 7 Johns Hopkins.
The redshirt sophomore was tested frequently early on in Charlottesville, allowing five goals on 10 shots in the first quarter. He made a key save to deny Thomas Mencke toward the end of the first quarter, which led to a Payton Anderson goal in transition. Over the final three quarters, McCool denied UVA 12 times, three of which came in the fourth quarter to hold the Cavaliers scoreless over the final 11:38.
After taking over for Will Mark this season, McCool has started to settle in and play at a high level. His first roadblock came on Feb. 22 against Harvard, when he allowed 10 goals on 15 shots and was benched for Michael Ippoliti. Following SU’s shock defeat, head coach Gary Gait said McCool was still the starter going forward.
Since then, McCool hasn’t finished with a save percentage below 50%, which includes a career-high 18-save performance against Colgate on March 22. McCool’s save percentage stands at 59.6%, the second-highest rate in the ACC.
