With a season-high 14 saves in a 9-7 upset of then-No. 3 North Carolina, Notre Dame senior goalie Samantha Giacolone earns Brine/US Lacrosse Player of the Week honors.

The win marked the Fighting Irish's first over UNC in program history, bumping them into the top five of the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I women's Top 20 at No. 4.

Entering Sunday's matchup, Giacolone anchored the nation's top defense, which allowed 6.10 goals per game and then limited Carolina to a season-low seven goals. She now boasts the best goals-against average (6.35) in Division I, as well as the second-best save percentage (55.5). 

“Seeing that smile on her face after the game, and having the ball in her stick when the clock ticked down, that’s one of her top performances,” Notre Dame coach Christine Halfpenny said. “There’s one save that’s the save of the year, by any goalie on any team in any year. She’s an incredible talent. She puts so much time into her craft. I would certainly think if you’d ask her, she’d say it’s one of her best.

Season-high saves for Sam on Sunday.

Up to a .555 save percentage.

cc: @Tewaaraton

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— Notre Dame W Lax (@NDWomensLax) April 1, 2019