SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Air Force’s Chris Walsch and Jacksonville’s Ben Gleichenhaus have been named Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for games played April 5-11, the league office announced Tuesday.
Walsch earned his third weekly honor of the season by leading No. 12 Air Force (10-2, 4-0 SoCon) past league foe Mercer on Saturday, 15-13. The sophomore from Hampstead, Md., scored four goals – including the game-winner with 2:10 remaining – and also dished out an assist in the Falcons’ 10th straight win, which marks a program record and is the longest streak active streak in Division I. Walsch now has three game-winners during the 2016 campaign and has found the net in 16 consecutive contests. He leads the SoCon with 3.50 points per game.
Gleichenhaus, a sophomore goalkeeper, was nearly perfect against VMI on Saturday, recording a career-high-tying 19 saves for a .905 save percentage in a 14-2 home victory for Jacksonville (3-7, 1-3 SoCon). The Cherry Hills Village, Colo., native allowed a pair of goals in the first period before blanking the Keydets the rest of the game. Gleichenhaus currently leads the nation with an average of 14.0 saves per game and ranks 11th with a .558 save percentage.
SoCon lacrosse action continues this Saturday with four league contests.
Other nominees for offense: Michael LeClair (High Point), Dakota Rohlin (Jacksonville), Shawn Carter (Mercer) and Alex Hatem (Richmond).
Other nominees for defense: Doug Gouchoe (Air Force), Tim Troutner (High Point) and Tom Monzo (Richmond).
2016 Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 16: Mitch Goldberg, Richmond, A
Feb. 23: Chris Walsch, Air Force, A
March 1: Michael LeClair, High Point, A
March 9: Mitch Goldberg, Richmond, A
March 15: Christopher Allen, Air Force, M
March 22: Christopher Allen, Air Force, M
March 29: Chris Walsch, Air Force, A
April 5: Stephen Wierzbicki, Furman, A
April 12: Chris Walsch, Air Force, A
2016 Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 16: Bobby Schmitt, Bellarmine, LSM
Feb. 23: Doug Gouchoe, Air Force, GK
March 1: Doug Gouchoe, Air Force, GK
March 9: Benny Pugh, Richmond, GK
March 15: Doug Gouchoe, Air Force, GK
March 22: Mike Nugent, Mercer, GK
March 29: Doug Gouchoe, Air Force, GK
April 5: Tim Troutner, High Point, GK
April 12: Ben Gleichenhaus, Jacksonville, GK
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