Marquette, Georgetown Split #BIGEASTmlax Weekly Honors
BIG EAST Attack Player of the Week
John Wagner, Marquette, Jr., A (St. Davids, Ontario)
Marquette junior John Wagner netted his fourth overtime game-winner of the season, fifth game-winning goal overall putting a cap on a six-goal, three-assist week. Wagner scored four goals, including the winning score 14 seconds into overtime against Providence to seal Marquette’s trip to Villanova for the BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship. He also added two assists. The junior scored three times in the final two minutes of game play against the Friars after Marquette rallied from a four-goal deficit, 11-7, late in regulation. His six points against Providence was a career high. Wagner added two goals and an assist in a close 7-6 loss to then-No. 14/15 Notre Dame on Wednesday.
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week
Lucas Wittenberg, Georgetown, Jr., M (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Georgetown junior Lucas Wittenberg had an eight-point week with three goals and five assists. Wittenberg had two goals and three assists in the Hoyas’ 13-11 victory over then-No. 13 Villanova on Saturday, evening Georgetown’s BIG EAST record at 2-2. The junior also scored a goal and added two assists in an 11-8 loss to then-No. 9/10 Loyola Maryland on Tuesday. To add to his stat line, he picked up three ground balls and boasted a .625 shots on goal percentage.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Nick Marrocco, Georgetown, Sr., G (Duxbury, Mass.)
Georgetown goalie Nick Marrocco repeats as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after a 15-save performance helped the Hoyas to a 13-11 victory on the road at then-No. 13 Villanova. Marrocco posted a .500 save percentage against the Wildcats. The 15-save performance was a season high for the senior who reached the 600 career save mark. He is one of four Hoyas in program history to collect 600 career saves. Marrocco had a 1-1 week, earning the 11-8 loss to then No. 9/10 Loyola, where he stopped seven Greyhound shots. Marrocco had 22 saves for the week and picked up two ground balls and caused two turnovers.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Griffin Fleming, Marquette, R-Fr. (Bryn Mawr, Pa.)
Marquette freshman Griffin Fleming scored the game-tying goal against Providence with time expiring at the end of regulation to force overtime. Fleming had a career game against Providence with four points on two goals and two assists. Fleming had just three shots, two on goal against the Friars. For the week, he also added a goal against then-No. 14/15 Notre Dame on Wednesday.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Austin French, Denver, Jr., A (Danville, Calif.)
French had a six-point outing (five goals, one assist) on 5-for-7 shooting in the Pioneers 15-6 victory over St. John’s, securing a berth for Denver in the upcoming BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Five of his goals were scored in Denver’s first 10 goals of the game.
Josh Matte, Denver, So., G (Issaquah, Wash.)
Matte had an eight-save performance and allowed just four goals with a 0.667 save percentage in the first three quarters of Denver’s 15-6 win over St. John’s. Matte improved to 5-0 in five starts, it was his third-straight game of six goals or less.
Daniel Bucaro, Georgetown, Jr., A (East Setauket, N.Y.)
Bucaro led the Hoyas to a 1-1 week against a pair of nationally ranked opponents. In midweek non-league action against Loyola Maryland, he tallied two goals and three assists. In the 13-11 victory at then-No. 13 Villanova, Bucaro added five goals and an assist to move into 10
th all-time on Georgetown’s career scoring list with 139 points.
Gibson Smith, Georgetown, Fr., D (Pelham, N.Y.)
Smith collected 14 ground balls in a 1-1 week for Georgetown against nationally ranked opponents. In the 13-11 win at then-No. 13 Villanova, Smith had eight ground balls. Against then-No. 9/10 Loyola, Smith collected six ground balls. For the week, he also caused two turnovers.
Ryan Nawrocki, Providence, So., M (Smithtown, N.Y.)
Nawrocki scored four goals in Providence’s road loss, 12-11, in overtime to Marquette on Saturday.