SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Air Force attackman Matthew Schwartz and High Point defender Terrell Sands have been named the Southern Conference men’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from March 27 to April 2. The awards are selected by the league office.
Schwartz earned his first career weekly award after scoring seven goals in the Falcons’ two games last week. Against No. 14/13 Cornell on Tuesday, the sophomore from Mahtomedi, Minnesota, scored a pair of goals on four shots. He followed that up with a career-best five goals in Air Force’s 9-7 Southern Conference win over Bellarmine on Saturday, doing so on seven shots. For the week, Schwartz had a shot percentage of .636. He is the Falcons’ second-leading goal-scorer and point-scorer with 13 and 16, respectively, despite missing their first three contests.
Sands picked up a season-high four ground balls and caused a career-high four turnovers as the Panthers knocked off Jacksonville, which had been 2-0 in league play, by an 11-9 score Saturday. The senior from Sebastian, Florida, helped High Point overcome an 8-for-22 showing at the faceoff X and held the Dolphins’ leading goal-scorer without a goal on the day. The weekly honor is the first of Sands’ career. He also earned a spot on the USILA Team of the Week for his play.
Air Force (4-7, 2-1 SoCon) returns to action at Jacksonville (4-5, 2-1) on Saturday at noon Eastern, while High Point (2-7, 2-1 SoCon) will take on league-leading Furman (3-6, 3-0) on the road Saturday at noon, as well.
Other offensive nominees: Jonah Moore (Furman), Asher Nolting (High Point), Bryan Gibson (Mercer) and Wesley Sanders (VMI).
Other defensive nominees: Vince Lombardi (Air Force), Alec Van de Bovenkamp (Furman), Ben Gleichenhaus (Jacksonville), Matt Hughes (Mercer) and Kyle Walsh (VMI).
2018 Southern Conference Men’s Lacrosse Players of the Week
Offense
Feb. 13 Hunter Forbes, Jacksonville
Feb. 20 Nick Hruby, Air Force
Feb. 27 Jeremy Winston, Jacksonville
March 6 Brian Wall, Bellarmine
March 13 John Daniel, VMI
March 20 Connor Robinson, High Point
March 27 Connor Robinson, High Point
April 3 Matthew Schwartz, Air Force
Defense
Feb. 13 Trent Harper, Air Force
Feb. 20 Blake Goodman, Richmond
Feb. 27 Dixon Smith, Jacksonville
March 6 Kevin Fahey, Bellarmine
March 13 Braden Host, Air Force
March 20 Alec Van de Bovenkamp, Furman
March 27 Hunter Sells, Jacksonville
April 3 Terrell Sands, High Point
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