SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman midfielder David Williamson and goalkeeper Alec Van de Bovenkamp have been named the Southern Conference men’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from April 24-30. The awards are selected by the league office and are the final ones of the season.
Williamson scored four goals in Furman’s dramatic 8-7 win over Bellarmine on Saturday, including the game-winner with just three seconds left as the Paladins clinched the final berth in the upcoming SoCon Men’s Lacrosse Championship. After Bellarmine had capped a four-goal rally to tie the contest at 7 with 34 seconds left and with Furman needing a win to see its season continue, the junior from Gainesville, Virginia, came up with his biggest goal of the afternoon and arguably of the season, netting an unassisted tally with just seconds to spare. Williamson also scored twice in the first quarter and once in the second and now has 27 goals on the season.
Van de Bovenkamp also came up clutch for the Paladins, making 15 saves and allowing just seven goals while facing a barrage of 38 shots on the day. Van de Bovenkamp turned in a .682 save percentage, his best mark of the season, with four of his saves coming in the fourth quarter. The sophomore from Hinsdale, Illinois, also collected a ground ball on the afternoon in picking up his fourth win of the season.
Fourth-seeded Furman (4-9, 4-3 SoCon), which qualified for the league tournament for the second straight season, will take on top-seeded Richmond (9-5, 6-1) in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Spiders’ Robins Stadium in Richmond, Virginia. No. 2 seed High Point (6-7, 6-1) and No. 3 seed Jacksonville (7-6, 5-2) square off in the second semifinal at 8 p.m. The winners will vie for the tournament title and the SoCon’s automatic NCAA berth on Saturday at 2 p.m.
All three contests will air live on the SoCon Digital Network, with Jason Patterson and Phil Cox on the call.
Other offensive nominees: Asher Nolting (High Point), McLean Chicquen (Jacksonville), Scott Baird (Mercer) and Ryan Lanchbury (Richmond).
Other defensive nominees: Josh When (Bellarmine), Terrell Sands (High Point), Dixon Smith (Jacksonville) and Blake Goodman (Richmond).
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
April 10 Davis Sampere, High Point
April 17 Ryan Lanchbury, Richmond
April 24 William Holcomb, Furman
May 1 David Williamson, Furman
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
April 10 Blake Goodman, Richmond
April 17 John Hulsman, Bellarmine
April 24 Tim Troutner Jr., High Point
May 1 Alec Van de Bovenkamp, Furman
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