Christian Cuccinello, Villanova
Villanova’s Cuccinello and Denver Duo of Baptiste, Walker Earn #BIGEASTmlax Weekly Awards
NEW YORK – Villanova’s Christian Cuccinello earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after a productive six-point performance in the Wildcats’ overtime league win over Marquette. Denver’s Trevor Baptiste and Ethan Walker repeat weekly honors for Defensive and Freshman accolades.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Christian Cuccinello, Villanova, Jr., A (Mountain Lakes, N.J.)
The junior attackman scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Villanova its first BIG EAST win of the season in a 10-9 overtime victory over Marquette. In addition to his game-winner, Cuccinello had four goals and added an assist for a career-high six points. His assist of Jack Curran’s fourth-quarter goal tied the game at 9-9. Cuccinello’s career-best five goals came on just six shots he took on target, of just seven overall. Cuccinello’s game-winner with 1:31 remaining was scored unassisted. All five of his goals were quality, as his first two were the first scores for Villanova after Marquette went up 3-0. He scored the fourth goal for VU, man-up, the first Wildcat goal of the second period. His third goal tied the game at 7-7 at 8:06 in the third.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Trevor Baptiste, Denver, Jr., FOGO (Denville, N.J.)
Baptiste repeats as Defensive Player of the Week as he continued his dominance at the faceoff position winning 26 of 30 in the 20-11 victory for Denver over Georgetown. The junior’s 26 faceoff wins are the most by any other player this season. His winning percentage of .867 ties for the sixth best in Division I this spring. Baptiste collected 17 ground balls in the game, as his game performance tied for fourth nationally. The 26 wins tied Denver’s Division I school record for faceoff wins. In almost three years of play, Baptiste has collected 393 ground balls, tied for 19th in NCAA history.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Ethan Walker, Denver, Fr., A (Peterborough, Ontario)
Walker picks up his third Freshman of the Week honor with five points in the 20-11 BIG EAST victory for Denver over Georgetown on Saturday. Walker had his sixth hat trick of his career with three goals and two assists. Walker scored Denver’s first two goals, after the Pios fell behind the Hoyas early in the first period.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Connor Cannizzaro, Denver, Sr., A (Cazenovia, N.Y.)
Cannizzaro had a career-best nine points (4G, 5A) in Denver’s 20-11 win over Georgetown on Saturday. His nine points and five assists were league highs this season.
Daniel Bucaro, Georgetown, So., A (East Setauket, N.Y.)
Tallied six points with a hat trick and three assists in a 20-11 loss at then-No. 4/6 Denver.
Andy DeMichiei, Marquette, Sr., M (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Tallied six points in a 1-1 week for Marquette with three goals and three assists. He had two goals against Air Force and had a goal and three assists in the tough OT loss at Villanova.
Jarrod Neumann, Providence, Sr., D (Springfield, Mass.)
Continued to lead the Friar defense that again held its opponent, St. John’s this week, to six goals. Neumann held two of SJU’s top offensive producers scoreless. He held his top scorer to just one goal.
Scott Scannell, St. John’s, Sr., M (Nesconset, N.Y.)
Had five points on a goal and four assists in the 15-6 loss to Providence for the Red Storm.