Villanova’s Curran, Marquette’s Byrnes BIG EAST MLAX Players of the Week
NEW YORK – Villanova’s Jack Curran was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week after a seven-point effort against Georgetown to help the Wildcats’ earn their first league win of the season. Marquette’s Liam Byrnes was named Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Golden Eagles to their fourth league win of the season staving off a Providence rally in the second half.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jack Curran, Villanova, Sr., M
In a 16-4 victory over Georgetown that included 12 unanswered goals, Curran was the point leader with seven on three goals and four assists. Curran’s seven points were also a league best for the week. The senior opened the second half with back-to-back goals then assisted on the next three as the Wildcats’ broke a 4-4 halftime tie.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Liam Byrnes, Marquette, GS, D
Byrnes helped the Golden Eagles to its fourth BIG EAST win of the year helping to hold Providence to seven goals, despite a second half rally by the Friars. Playing on the wing and at close defense, Byrnes caused four Friar turnovers, a league-best for last week. He also picked up three groundballs. Earlier in the week, Byrnes picked up eight ground balls, caused a pair of turnovers and chipped in offensively with an assist as Marquette nearly upset then-No. 2/1 Notre Dame on Wednesday before falling 8-7 in overtime.
BIG EAST Lacrosse Weekly Honor Roll
Connor Cannizzarro, Denver, Jr., A
Scored five goals on nine shots for his second-straight game with at least five goals. His goal streak extends to 36 games. Cannizzaro’s five goals tied for a league best this week.
Trevor Baptiste, Denver, So., FOS
Baptiste won 20-of-25 faceoffs and picked up a Denver single-game record of 20 ground balls on against St. John’s in a 17-10 win. Twenty ground balls are also a league best this season.
Ryan McNamara, Marquette, Jr., M
Became the third Marquette player to ever reach 30 goals and 40 points in a season with a pair of goals and three assists in the 8-7 win over Providence. McNamara had a goal and an assist at then-No. 2/1 Notre Dame for a total of seven points for the week.
Jarrod Neumann, Providence, Jr., D
With four ground balls, led a defensive unit that held Marquette to just one goal in the second half, scoreless in the final quarter while the Friars rallied. Despite leading a defense that held the Golden Eagles scoreless on man-up opportunities, the Neumann and Friars could not overcome the Golden Eagles early lead.
Danny Sweeney, Villanova, Jr., D
Helped to keep Georgetown scoreless in the second half thanks to five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Villanova held Georgetown to four goals total, just nine shots in the second half.