BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Lyam MacKinnon, Villanova, Jr., F (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Villanova junior Lyam MacKinnon had two goals and an assist last week as the Wildcats went 2-0-0 with 2-1 wins over Yale and at Temple (2OT). MacKinnon scored the first goal against Yale last Monday with a score in the 18th minute. MacKinnon then assisted the game-winner in the 72nd minute. On Saturday, MacKinnon scored the golden goal penalty kick in the 106th minute, to earn the double overtime victory over the Owls. MacKinnon has eight points (3G, 2A) for the season so far.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Daniel Wu, Georgetown, Jr., D (Cary, N.C.)
Georgetown junior Daniel Wu helped the No. 1 Hoyas defend their top ranking with two shutout wins for the week. Wu and the Hoya defense started the week holding Santa Clara to just three shots on goal, six total, defending a 1-0 GU lead. On Saturday against No. 7 Maryland, Georgetown scored in the sixth minute as Wu and the Blue & Gray defense went to work holding the Terps to just one shot on goal, eight shots total. Wu himself had a shot on the Terps’ net as Georgetown outshot Maryland 21-8 (7-1). Georgetown has not allowed a goal since the first game of the season and has outscored opponents 9-1.
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Lukas Burns, Providence, So., GK (Cinnaminson, N.J.)
Providence sophomore keeper Lukas Burns helped the Friars to a 1-0-1 week as he made 15 total saves in goal, allowing one goals in 187 minutes of action. Burns stopped 12 Rhode Island attempts as the Friar defense staved off the Rams to maintain a 1-1 draw. He made three saves in the overtime periods. On Friday, Burns played 77:45 minutes saving three Loyola attempts and not allowing a goal to score as Providence won 3-1. Providence had 3-0 lead when Burns exited the game.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Balthi Saunders, Villanova, Fr., F (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Balthi Saunders, a Villanova freshman forward, helped the Wildcats to a pair of 2-1 wins last week over Yale and Temple. Saunders scored the game-winner against the Bulldogs after picking up an assist on the first goal of the game. His game-winner came in the 72nd minute. On Saturday against local-rival Temple, Saunders scored in the 55th minute in what resulted in another 2-1 win. His goal tied the game which went into double overtime.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Jahmali Waite, UConn
Waite made five saves in a 1-0 double-overtime win over Monmouth, capturing his second clean sheet of the season.
Matthew Brickman, DePaul
Brickman helped the Blue Demon backline hold Bradley to just one goal, which came on a penalty kick in the closing minutes. Brickman played all 90.
Brandon Knapp, St. John’s
Knapp played a leading role in St. John’s 2-0-0 week, tallying a goal and two assists. He assisted the game-winner in Monday’s 1-0 win over Fordham. He followed with his own game-winner and an assist in SJU’s 3-2 overtime win over Boston U on Saturday.
Johannes Pex, Seton Hall
Pex helped hold No. 10 Virginia Tech to a 3-3 draw as the Hokies had just five shots on goal. Against NJIT, Pex assisted three of Seton Hall’s four goal in a 4-3 OT win.
Taylor Crull, Xavier
Crull helped Xavier post a 2-1 record last week with wins over Chicago State and Northwestern with its only loss to No. 1 Indiana last Monday. Crull played every minute of each match and limit opponents to only 17 shots (five on goal) with the XU defense posting two shutouts and just one goal.