Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/29/16
From Press Releases
Following a strong performance in Lehigh’s thrilling 12-11 win over Holy Cross Saturday, sophomore Matt Ernst (Episcopal Academy) has been named the Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Week, as announced on Monday. Ernst tied a career high in faceoff wins with 16, helping the Mountain Hawks come back from a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit to earn their sixth straight Patriot League opening victory.
Ernst set a career high with 26 faceoff attempts on Saturday, taking every faceoff for the Mountain Hawks. Ernst won 16-of-26 for the game, also tying a career-high six groundballs. The effort came against a strong opponent in Holy Cross’ Joe Reilly, who entered the game having won 55.4 percent on the season (41-of-74).
Ernst won 5-of-7 first-quarter faceoffs to help Lehigh open a 4-1 lead with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter. He also won 9-of-14 second-half faceoffs, including 4-of-6 in the fourth quarter, which proved critical for the Mountain Hawks.
Also recognized as honorable mention on Monday was freshman Tristan Rai, who scored three goals and dished two assists, the fourth straight game to begin his career with four or more points. Rai tied the score at 11 via a highlight reel goal with 6:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. He is now tied for the nation’s lead in goals with 16.
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Saturday for another big Patriot League matchup when they host Colgate at 12 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Lanham (Garnet Valley) is NEC DEF Player of the Week
Junior face-off specialist Mike Lanham (Garnet Valley) has been selected the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday afternoon. The honor marks the first NEC weekly honor of Lanham’s career.
Lanham went 17-of-23 from the circle, including a 7-of-8 second period, in SJU’s 16-9 win over Manhattan on Saturday. The junior also added a game-high 10 ground balls. Lanham matched his single-game career-best with 17 face-off wins and has now won 17 possessions from the X in back-to-back games this season.
Villanova’s Froccaro is Offensive Player of the Week
Villanova jumped into the national polls this week, No. 14 in the USILA/Nike Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the Inside Lacrosse media poll after defeating then-No. 15/12 Penn State 19-9 on their home field. Wildcat Jake Froccaro led the way with eight goals and two assists, as he earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors.
With a league best 10 points Froccaro scored eight goals in a 19-9 upset of then-No. 15/12 Penn State on Saturday, breaking a Villanova single-season scoring record that stood since 1999. Froccaro’s eight goals were a career-best at Villanova, preceded by a 10-goal effort during his time at Princeton. He now owns single-game scoring records at two different schools. His 10 points were a league individual high.
Big East Honor Roll – Luke Palmadesso, Villanova, So., FOGO
Palmadesso won 22-of-27 faceoffs (.815) in a dominate 19-9 win at No. 15/12 Penn State to help the Wildcats maintain possession for nearly the entire game. Palmadesso also collected a career high 15 ground balls.
