SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Air Force attackman Chris Walsch and Richmond goalkeeper Benny Pugh have been named the Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for games played March 14-20 the league office announced Tuesday. Selections are made by the conference office.
Walsch registered four goals and an assist to lead Air Force (5-3, 1-0 SoCon) to a 14-6 victory in its conference opener against Mercer (3-4, 0-1 SoCon) on Saturday in Macon, Georgia. The junior, who leads the Falcons with 19 goals and nine assists on the season, extended his point-streak to 32 games, dating back to March of 2015. Walsch tallied his third goal of the game in the third quarter to claim for his fourth hat trick of the season. His four goals against Mercer tied an Air Force single-game season high.
Walsch’s four goals are the most by a SoCon player through five conference matchups played and are tied for second-most among all games played this season. Walsch has led Air Force in goals and points every year since joining in the 2014-15 season. The Finksburg, Maryland, native leads all active Falcons in career goals, assists and points. He is also third in the program’s career record book in career goals (91), assists (56) and points (147).
Pugh recorded 16 saves in Richmond’s (7-1, 2-0 SoCon) 13-6 win at Jacksonville (0-7, 0-1 SoCon) on Saturday, leading the Spiders to their second conference win of the season. His 16-save performance marks the second-most saves in a single game in Spider history – just one shy of the program record. Pugh surrendered just five goals after facing 21 shots on-goal to boast a 76.2 save percentage in 55 minutes of action. The senior also added nine ground balls in the Spiders’ seventh win of the season.
Pugh continues to lead the country in goals-against average, holding Richmond’s opponents to 5.49 goals per game, while the Spider offense averages 10.50 goals per game. Pugh also leads the nation in save percentage at 69.1 percent.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Jonah Moore (Furman), Sean Harrison (High Point), Hunter Forbes (Jacksonville), Shawn Carter (Mercer) and Teddy Hatfield (Richmond).
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Brandon Jones (Air Force), Tim Troutner Jr. (High Point), Chase York (Jacksonville) and Colin Massa (Mercer).
2017 Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 14: Teddy Hatfield, Richmond
Feb. 21: Jake Nelson, Mercer
Feb. 28: Ryan Lee, Richmond
March 8: Lucas Wittenberg, Mercer
March 14: Nick Hruby, Air Force
March 21: Chris Walsch, Air Force
2017 Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 14: Benny Pugh, Richmond
Feb. 21: Benny Pugh, Richmond
Feb. 28: Trent Harper, Air Force
March 8: Van de Bovenkamp, Furman
March 14: Ryan Dennis, Richmond
March 21: Benny Pugh, Richmond
-www.SoConSports.com-