Elby was named the defensive Most Valuable Player of the Duke Nike Classic as the Tar Heels defeated a pair of Top 20 foes, No. 7 Penn State and No. 18 Arkansas. Elby played all 102 minutes of the 1-0 double overtime shutout against the previously unbeaten Nittany Lions, who entered the match scoring nearly three goals per game. Two days later, Elby played all but four minutes against the Razorbacks, while helping to hold them to just four shots en route to the 2-1 victory. The Arcadia, California native also assisted Summer Green’s goal in the 17th minute that gave the Tar Heels an early 1-0 lead.
North Carolina, which is ranked No. 9 in the latest Soccer America Top 25 released Tuesday, is one of six ACC teams ranked in the poll and one of four in the Top 10 (No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Virginia Tech, No. 6 Florida State, No. 9 North Carolina, No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 19 Clemson).
– ACC News Release