Ethan Walker (Denver) helped the Pioneers clinch a playoff berth.
League Leaders Denver, Villanova Split #BIGEASTmlax Weekly Honors
BIG EAST Attack Player of the Week
Ethan Walker, Denver, Jr., A (Peterborough, Ontario)
Denver junior attackman Ethan Walker had game-best five points in a 14-8 win over Providence on Saturday, which helped the Pioneers clinch the first spot in the upcoming BIG EAST men’s lacrosse championship field. Walker scored the first two goals of the game, at 10:30 and 9:02 in the first quarter. He also scored in the third quarter to cushion a two-point Denver lead, 7-5 with 6:14 left in the period. His final goal was scored in the fourth quarter with 10:30 left. He also assisted a goal by Jack Hannah with 35 seconds left in the half to put Denver up by two, 6-4. Walker also picked up two ground balls. His hat trick was the sixth of the season.
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week
Connor Kirst, Villanova, Jr., M (Bernardsville, N.J.)
Villanova junior midfielder scored a hat trick and added an assist in Villanova’s 16-5 victory over St. John’s on Saturday, keeping the Wildcats at the top of the BIG EAST leaderboard with Denver with a 3-1 record. Of his three goals, two were score in man-up situations. Kirst’s goals put Villanova ahead 10-1, 11-2 and 13-4. Kirst leads Villanova in points with 43 (27G, 16A).
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Will Vitton, Villanova, Fr., G (Summit, N.J.)
Villanova rookie goalie Will Vitton had another multi-save performance between the pipes for the Wildcats with 18. Vitton’s save count tied for a league-best performance in last week’s games. Vitton’s goals against average for the game was 5.18, with a save percentage of .783, also the highest marks for all starters last week. It is Vitton’s fourth weekly honor having won Defensive Player of the Week on April 8 and Freshman of the Week honors on April 1 and April 8.
BIG EAST Freshman Player of the Week
Brett Boos, Denver, Fr., FOS (Parker, Colo.)
Denver freshman Brett Boos went 15-of-23 (.652) in faceoffs on Saturday helping Denver to a 14-8 victory over Providence. Boos also picked up six ground balls and caused one turnover. In the second half, Boos won 10-of-13 faceoffs, including all four in the third quarter. Denver’s win helped the Pioneers clinch the first playoff berth in the four-team BIG EAST men’s lacrosse tournament field.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Jake Carraway, Georgetown, Jr., A
Carraway boasted six points on four goals and two assists in a 23-7 victory for No. 19/18 Georgetown (10-4) over N.J.I.T. It was the Hoyas first time hitting the 20-goal mark since 2001. Carraway6 has 73 points (46G, 27A) on the season.
Noah Richard, Marquette, Sr., LSM
Richard posted a career-high nine ground balls and tied a career-best with four caused turnovers in Saturday’s overtime loss to No. 3 Duke on Long Island. He helped lead a defensive unit that limited the Blue Devils to their fourth-lowest scoring output of the season (10 goals).
John Wagner, Marquette, Sr., A
Wagner poured in a career-best five goals in a 10-9 overtime loss to No. 3 Duke in the “Battle at Bethpage” on Saturday. He scored back-to-back goals in the both the second and third quarters to rally Marquette from a pair of two goal deficits. He tied the game at eight.